Wolfgang Larrazábal

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50th President of Venezuela
Wolfgang Larrazábal

In office January 23, 1958 – November 14, 1958
Preceded by	Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Succeeded by	Edgar Sanabria

Born	March 5, 1911 Carúpano, Sucre state, Venezuela
Died	February 27, 2003 (aged 91) Caracas, Venezuela
Spouse	Mercedes María Peláez
Religion	Roman Catholic
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Wolfgang Larrazábal (March 5, 1911 – February 27, 2003), Commander of the Venezuelan Navy, became President of Venezuela following the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez on 23 January 1958.

Larrazábal was born in Carúpano, Sucre state, was the son of Fabio Larrazábal and Jerónima Ugueto, attended college at the Pestalozzi Institute of Maracaibo. Later, entered at the Naval School (1928-1932). Between 1942-1945, was captain of General Urdaneta, Leandro and Soublette ships, later became commander of the Naval Base of Puerto Cabello, in July, 1947, was named commander of the Armed Forces, and in 1949, naval attaché of the embassy of Venezuela in Washington, DC. Also was director of the National Institute of Sports (1952-1955) and director of the Circle of the Armed Forces (1957-1958), and at the beginning of 1958, commander of the Navy.

After the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, Larrazábal was appointed as interim president of the Government Junta on January 23, 1958. His term was characterized as a Plan of Emergency. He came in the election held later that year (November 14, 1958) with 903,479 votes, behind Edgar Sanabria.

Later served as ambassador of Venezuela in Chile (1959 - 1969), ran again for president for the Frente Democrático (FDP) and Movimiento Electoral Nacional Independiente (MENI) parties in the 1963 elections, in which he obtained only 9.43% of the vote. Later served several terms in the Venezuelan parliament.