Buenos Aires (Argentina), 1878 – 1959

By Equipo Latinoamericana

A member of the Argentine oligarchy, Carlos Saavedra Lamas was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He earned his doctorate in law from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), where he later taught and served as rector from 1941 to 1943. His political career began in 1906 when he ran for a seat in Congress, eventually serving two terms and specializing in international affairs. In 1915, he became Minister of Justice and Education. From 1932 to 1938, under General Agustín Justo’s administration, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Saavedra Lamas was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as a mediator in the negotiations that led to the treaty ending the Chaco War (1932-1935) between Bolivia and Paraguay. In 1936, he was elected president of the League of Nations. He passed away in 1959 due to a stroke.