Rulers
Index Da
da Costa Gomez |
da Costa Gomez, Moises F(rumencio) (b. Oct. 27, 1907 - d. Nov. 22, 1966), prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles (1949, 1951-54).
da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws, Lucina (Elona) (b. April 5, 1929 - d. Jan. 7, 2017), prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles (1977); widow of Moises F. da Costa Gomez. She was also minister of public health (1970-77) and social welfare (1971-77).
Daalen, Jan Hero Adriaan van (b. Jan. 26, 1842, Curaçao - d. 1899), administrator of Sint Maarten (1889-91).
Daar |
Daar, Aden Abdullah Osman (Somali Aaden Cabdillahi Cusmaan Daar, Arabic `Adan `Abd Allah `Uthman Dar), also called Aden Adde (b. 1908, Beledweyne, Hiran region, southern Somalia - d. June 8, 2007, Nairobi, Kenya), president of Somalia (1960-67). He joined the Somali Youth Club (later called the Somali Youth League [SYL]) in February 1944, became a member of the party's steering board, and in 1946 was appointed secretary of the Beledweyne section of the party. In 1951 the Regional Council of Mudug designated him for the Territorial Council on which he served until February 1956 as the representative of the SYL. In 1953 he was appointed vice-president of the Territorial Council. In 1954-56 and 1958-60 he was president of the SYL. In 1956, when the Territorial Council was replaced by the Legislative Assembly, he was elected member for Beledweyne district at the general elections, and the Legislative Assembly appointed him its president. He maintained this post when the Legislative Assembly was converted into the Constituent Assembly. In this capacity, he proclaimed the independence of the Somali Republic on July 1, 1960, and the National Assembly chose him as provisional president of the republic for one year, and in 1961 elected him to a 6-year term. In the 1967 presidential elections, he was defeated by Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. According to the constitution, the former president enjoyed life membership of the National Assembly. In 1990, when the country was edging toward anarchy, he was among about 100 politicians who signed a manifesto expressing concern over the destruction, killings, and flight of refugees as a result of the civil war. He was arrested along with more than 50 others by Muhammad Siad Barre's faltering regime. After his release, he lived mostly on his farm in Janale in southern Somalia.
Dabain, Bator (D.) (b. 1900, Aginsky aymak, Zabaykalsky oblast [now in Zabaykalsky kray], Russia - d. ...), chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R. (1929-34).
Dabbas, Muhammad (Abdul Razaq) (b. 1927, Salt, Transjordan [now Jordan] - d. Aug. 21, 2014), finance minister of Jordan (1976-79).
Dabbashi, Ibrahim O(mar) (b. Feb. 25, 1950, Sabratha, Libya), Libyan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2013-16).
Dabcevic-Kucar |
Dabcevic-Kucar, Savka, née Dabcevic (b. Dec. 6, 1923, Korcula, Korcula island, Dalmatia, Croatia - d. Aug. 6, 2009, Zagreb, Croatia), president of the Executive Committee (1967-69) and secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1969-71) of Croatia. She became a partisan during the mass uprising in Dalmatia in September 1943 and a member of the Croatian Communist Party in December 1943. She was most recognized for her demand for greater autonomy for Croatia within Yugoslavia. Her policy, propagated through mass rallies, became a movement that became the Croatian Spring in 1971. As a result she was expelled from the Communist Party of Croatia in 1972 and ultimately from public life. She and some of her political colleagues started their own party called the Croatian People's Party (HNS) in October 1990. She was party president in 1991-94 and a member of parliament in 1992-95.
Dabengwa, Dumiso (b. Dec. 6, 1939, Umguza district, Matabeleland North, Southern Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] - d. May 22/23, 2019, Nairobi, Kenya), home affairs minister of Zimbabwe (1992-2000). Leaving the Zimbabwe African National Union in 2008, he revived the Zimbabwe African People's Union and was its president until his death. He was a minor presidential candidate in 2013.
Dabija, Nicolae (b. Aug. 15, 1837, Husi, Falciu county, Moldavia [now in Vaslui county, Romania] - d. Dec. 1, 1884, Paris, France), war minister of Romania (1879). He was also minister of public works (1880-84).
Dabija, Tudor, acting defense minister of Moldova (1996).
Dabiré |
Dabiré, Christophe (Joseph Marie) (b. Aug. 27, 1948), prime minister of Burkina Faso (2019-20, 2021). He was also minister of health (1992-97) and secondary and higher education and scientific research (1997-2000).
Dablanc, Christian (Paul Louis) (b. Jan. 13, 1931, Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France - d. June 19, 1989, Toulouse, France), high commissioner of the French Territory of the Afars and Issas (1974-76). He was also prefect of the French départements of Indre (1973-74), Allier (1976-78), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (1981-83), Vienne (1983-84), Bas-Rhin (1984-86), and Haute-Garonne (1986-89).
Dabor, Foday, Sierra Leonean diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (1998-99).
Dabormida, Giuseppe (b. Nov. 21, 1799, Verrua, Kingdom of Sardinia [now in Italy] - d. Aug. 10, 1869, Buriasco, Piemonte, Italy), war minister (1848, 1849) and foreign minister (1852-55, 1859-60) of Sardinia.
Dabro, Josip (b. Jan. 5, 1983, Belgrade, Serbia), Croatian politician. He has been a deputy prime minister and minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (2024- ).
Dabrowski, Konstanty (b. March 16, 1906, Czarny Ostrów, Podolia, Russia [now Chornyi Ostriv, Khmelnytskyi oblast, Ukraine] - d. Aug. 14, 1975, Warsaw, Poland), finance minister of Poland (1944-52). He was also minister of foreign trade (1952-56) and chairman of the Supreme Control Chamber (1957-69).
Dabwido, Sprent (Jared Brent Arumogo) (b. Sept. 16, 1972 - d. May 8, 2019, Armidale, N.S.W.), president (2011-13) and foreign minister (2011-12, 2013, 2013) of Nauru. He was also minister of transport and telecommunications (2008-10).
Daçe, Bekir Sami (b. 1930, Hamdilli, near Ceyhan, Turkey - d. May 4, 2022, Ankara, Turkey), justice minister of Turkey (1995).
Daci, Nexhat (b. July 26, 1944, Veliki Trnovac, southern Serbia), acting president of Kosovo (2006). He was president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo (1999-2002, 2017-19) and speaker of parliament (2001-06).
Dacic, Ivica (b. Jan. 1, 1966, Prizren, Kosovo, Serbia), first deputy prime minister (2008-12, 2014-20, 2022-24), interior minister (2008-14, 2024- ), prime minister (2012-14, 2017 [acting], 2024 [acting]), and foreign minister (2014-20, 2022-24) of Serbia. In 2020-22 he was president of the National Assembly.
Dacko, Bruno (b. 1952), Central African Republic politician; son of David Dacko. He was minister of tourism and craft industry development (2003-05).
D. Dacko |
Dacko, David (b. March 24, 1930, Bouchia, Lobaye province, Middle Congo, French Equatorial Africa [now in Central African Republic] - d. Nov. 20, 2003, Yaoundé, Cameroon), president of the Central African Republic (1960-66, 1979-81). In March 1957 he was elected to the territorial assembly. Barthélemy Boganda appointed him minister of agriculture in the first government council of Oubangui-Chari, and in August 1958 minister of administrative affairs. In December 1958 he was named minister of the interior, economy, and trade of the Central African Republic, which Oubangui-Chari had become. When Boganda disappeared in a plane crash on March 29, 1959, Dacko, who claimed a family relationship, established himself as his successor. Outmanoeuvring the then vice-president of the government council, Abel Goumba, he had himself elected head of the government. He also took over leadership of the Mouvement d'Évolution Sociale de l'Afrique Noire (MESAN). Less than 30 years old, he now exercised sole power. With independence on Aug. 13, 1960, he became president, also taking the defense portfolio. He moved against Goumba's opposition party, the Mouvement pour l'Évolution Démocratique de l'Afrique Centrale (MEDAC). In November 1962 he officially abolished the multiparty system, dissolving MEDAC and institutionalizing MESAN as the nation's only party. On the night of Dec. 31, 1965/Jan. 1, 1966, Dacko was deposed by Jean-Bédel Bokassa (then a colonel and chief of staff), put under detention in Bangui, and then allowed to return to his village. In 1976, Bokassa appointed Dacko his personal councillor, a post that Dacko made a springboard for his coup on Sept. 21, 1979. Aided by French paratroops, Dacko proclaimed the fall of Bokassa while the latter was on a visit to Libya. Dacko in turn was removed from office in September 1981, when Gen. André Kolingba seized power. He unsuccessfully ran for president in 1993 and 1999.
Dacon, Dame Monica (Jessie), née Sheen (b. June 4, 1934), deputy governor-general (2001-14) and acting governor-general (2002) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; knighted 2010.
Dacosta, Claude Antoine (b. Feb. 28, 1932, Pointe-Noire, Middle Congo [now Congo (Brazzaville)] - d. May 1, 2007, Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine, France), prime minister of Congo (Brazzaville) (1992-93). Living in exile in France from 1997, he was convicted in absentia for embezzlement and sentenced on Dec. 28, 2001, to 20 years hard labour.
Dada Hirezi, Héctor Miguel Antonio (b. April 12, 1938, San Salvador, El Salvador), foreign minister (1979-80) and junta member (1980) of El Salvador. He was also economy minister (2009-12).
Dadae |
Dadae, Sir Bob (Bofeng) (b. March 8, 1961, Dawot village, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea), defense minister (2007-11, 2011-12) and governor-general (2017-23, 2023- ) of Papua New Guinea; knighted 2017.
Daddah, Abdallahi Ould (b. April 25, 1935, Boutilimit, Mauritania), Mauritanian politician; brother of Moktar Ould Daddah. He was ambassador to France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Switzerland (1964-66), the United States (1966-67), and Belgium (1979-80), permanent representative to the United Nations (1966-70), and minister of equipment (1970-75) and rural development (1975-77).
Daddah, Ahmed Ould (b. Aug. 7, 1942, Boutilimit, Mauritania), finance minister of Mauritania (1978); half-brother of Moktar Ould Daddah. He was also a presidential candidate (1992).
M.O. Daddah |
Daddah, Moktar (Mohamedoun) Ould, Arabic Mukhtar bin Muhammad walad Daddah (b. Dec. 25, 1924, Boutilimit, Mauritania, French West Africa - d. Oct. 15, 2003, Paris, France), president of Mauritania (1961-78). He returned from his studies in Paris as the first Mauritanian with a university degree. He joined the more moderate of two rival parties, the Progressive Mauritanian Union, and in 1957 was elected to the territorial assembly. He became vice president, and in 1958 president, of the Government Council, and in 1959 prime minister. In 1958 he established a new unity party, the Mauritanian Regrouping Party, which in 1960 incorporated the chief remaining opposition party. Mauritania attained independence in 1960 and he was elected the country's first president in 1961. He was also foreign minister in 1960-62 and 1965. His first aim was national unity, a delicate problem in a country divided between a minority agricultural south and a largely nomadic Moorish centre and north. At first he tried to balance regional notables and impatient young modernizers in a basically parliamentary regime, but in 1964 he shifted to an authoritarian one-party system (Mauritanian People's Party, of which he was secretary-general). He was reelected as president in 1966, 1971, and 1976. In 1971-72 he was chairman of the Organization of African Unity. In July 1978 dissatisfaction with the costly attempt by Mauritania to annex part of former Spanish Sahara resulted in his ouster by a military coup d'état led by Lt.Col. Mustafa Ould Salek. He was released from prison in August 1979 and went into exile in France, where in May 1980 opposition movements formed the Alliance for a Democratic Mauritania. He returned to Mauritania on July 17, 2001.
Dade | Dadnadji |
Dade, Arta (Agim) (b. March 15, 1953, Tiranë, Albania), foreign minister of Albania (2001-02). She was also minister of culture, youth, and sports (1997-98).
Dadié, Bernard (Binlin) (b. Jan. 10, 1916, Assinie, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire] - d. March 9, 2019, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), Ivorian politician. Also known as a writer, he was minister of culture (1977-86).
Dadjo, (Houégban) Marcel (b. Jan. 4, 1925, Savè, Dahomey [now Benin]), Dahomeyan politician. He was minister of public works (1958-59, 1960, 1965-67) and transport (1959-60, 1960, 1965-67) and ambassador to West Germany (1961-64).
Dadnadji, (Joseph) Djimrangar (b. 1954, Bebo-Pen, Chad - d. Dec. 31, 2019, N'Djamena, Chad), prime minister of Chad (2013). He was also minister of planning, development, and cooperation (2002-03), environment and water resources (2003-04), and regional planning, urban planning, and housing (2010-11). He was a presidential candidate in 2016.
Daems, Rik, byname of Hendrik Jules Joseph Daems (b. Aug. 18, 1959, Aarschot, Brabant [now in Flemish Brabant], Belgium), Belgian politician. He was minister of telecommunications and public enterprises (1999-2003) and chairman of the Senate (2014).
Dafai, Hussein (Muhammad) al- (b. Yemen), war minister (1963-65) and interior minister (1965-66) of Yemen. He was also minister of labour and social affairs (1962-63) and ambassador to the Soviet Union (1972-76).
Dafalla |
Dafalla, al-Jazuli, Arabic al-Jazuli Daf`allah (b. December 1935, Wad Medani, Sudan), prime minister of The Sudan (1985-86).
Dagain, Charles (Jean Jacques Émile) (b. July 27, 1885, Le Mas-d'Azil, Ariège, France - d. 1969, Narbonne, Aude, France), commandant (1934-38) and acting chef de territoire (1938-39) of Chad and governor of Senegal (1943-45).
Dageago, Isabella, home affairs and health minister of Nauru (2019-22).
Dagklis, Panagiotis (G.), also spelled Danglis (b. Nov. 29 [Nov. 17, O.S.], 1853, Atalanti, Greece - d. March 9, 1924, Athens, Greece), military minister (1915) and a deputy prime minister (Thessaloniki government, 1916-17) of Greece. He was also commander-in-chief of the army (1918).
Dagli, Mustafa Hazim (b. 1906, Çankiri, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] - d. May 7, 1990), defense minister of Turkey (1965).
Dagnino, Gianni, byname of Giovanni Battista Dagnino (b. Jan. 9, 1926, Genoa, Italy - d. Feb. 3, 1995, Genoa), president of Liguria (1970-75).
D'Aguiar, Peter (Stanislaus) (b. Oct. 9, 1912, Georgetown, British Guiana [now Guyana] - d. March 30, 1989, London, England), finance minister of British Guiana/Guyana (1964-67).
Daguilh, Raoul (Fabre) (b. Sept. 15, 1887, Les Cayes, Haiti - d. 19..., Les Cayes), member of the Executive Government Council of Haiti (1957).
Dah, Michel Monvel (b. Dec. 2, 1938, Yako, Upper Volta [now Burkina Faso]), Burkinabe diplomat. He was ambassador to China, North Korea, India, Japan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand (1981-87) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1987-89).
Dahabi |
Dahabi, Nader, Arabic Nadir al-Dhahabi (b. Oct. 7, 1946, Amman, Jordan), prime minister and defense minister of Jordan (2007-09). He was also minister of transport (2001-04) and tourism and antiquities (2003-04).
Dahal |
Dahal, Pushpa Kamal (name given by his teacher), original name Chhabilal Dahal, byname Prachanda ("fierce one") (b. Dec. 11, 1954, Dhikurpokhari, Kaski district, Nepal), prime minister of Nepal (2008-09, 2016-17, 2022-24). Dire socioeconomic conditions in western Nepal inspired him to join politics, in order to help uplift the poor. He began working with the Communist Party led by Pushpa Lal in 1972. In 1980 he was tasked with leading the All Nepal National Free Students' Union (Revolutionary), which was affiliated with the radical Communist Party of Nepal (Masal), or CPN (Masal), Masal meaning "Flame" in Nepalese. In 1983 he was elected to the central committee of the CPN (Masal); after two splits of the party, he joined the CPN (Mashal ["Flame" in Sanskrit]) in 1985, becoming a member of the politburo and in 1989 general secretary. Several of the groups merged in 1990 to form the CPN (Unity Centre), with him as general secretary, but in 1994 it split again. In March 1995 he renamed his branch to reflect its Maoist leanings - the CPN (Maoist). It launched a "people's war" to abolish the monarchy with an attack on several police stations in February 1996. During 10 years of insurgency, he remained underground, spending 8 of those years in India. He emerged in June 2006 in a public meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and opposition leaders to negotiate the creation of a new government, and his popularity began to increase. The CPN (Maoist) won 220 seats in the April 2008 elections, becoming the largest party in the 601-member Constituent Assembly. In May the assembly voted to end the monarchy, and in August it elected Prachanda as the first prime minister of the republic. Without previous experience with parliamentary politics, he was faced with the task of rebuilding his country. In February 2009 a merger with a smaller party created the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). He resigned as prime minister in May 2009 when his attempt to fire the army chief, who had refused to free some 19,000 Maoist rebels and enlist them in the military (a central element of the 2006 peace agreement), was thwarted by Pres. Ram Baran Yadav. Due to further splitting, his party could not do well in the 2013 elections and was relegated to third position. Another merger in 2016 created the CPN (Maoist Centre). He served as prime minister again in 2016-17 after obtaining the backing of the Madhesi Front and entering a power-sharing deal with the Nepali Congress. In 2018 the CPN (Maoist Centre) merged with the CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist) into the Nepal Communist Party, with him and K.P. Sharma Oli as joint chairmen. However, the Supreme Court invalidated the merger in 2021. After elections in 2022, the two parties and four smaller ones formed a coalition government, with Dahal as prime minister to be followed by Oli after 2½ years; the coalition broke up earlier, though.
Dahanayake |
Dahanayake, Wijayananda (b. Oct. 22, 1902 - d. May 4, 1997, Galle district, southern Sri Lanka), prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister of Ceylon (1959-60). He became prime minister after the assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) government in September 1959. His six-month tenure ended when the next general election, in March 1960, was won by the United National Party. Dahanayake was a member of the left-wing Lanka Sama Samaja Party before joining the SLFP administration. He also served as minister of education (1956-60), home affairs (1965-70), and cooperatives (1986-88).
Dahdah, Lucien (Mounir) (b. Aug. 15, 1929 - d. Nov. 16, 2003), foreign and finance minister of Lebanon (1975).
Dahhak, Qusay al-, also spelled Koussay Aldahhak, Syrian diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2024- ).
Dahik (Garzozi), Alberto (b. Aug. 27, 1953, Guayaquil, Ecuador), finance minister (1986-87) and vice president (1992-95) of Ecuador.
Dahl, (Peter) Adolf (b. Jan. 14, 1868, Sölvesborg, Blekinge, Sweden - d. Sept. 13, 1930), finance minister of Sweden (1929-30).
Dahl, Gerhard (Geelmuyden) (b. May 25, 1905, Lærdal, Nordre Bergenhus amt [now in Vestland fylke], Norway - d. 1964), governor of Vestfold (1958-64).
Dahl, Walter Scott (b. Feb. 21, 1839, Melhus, Søndre Trondhjems amt [now in Trøndelag fylke], Norway - d. Sept. 4, 1906, Bergen, Norway), interior minister (1888) and justice minister (1888 [acting], 1888-89) of Norway.
Dahlberg, Gregory R(obert) (b. Nov. 23, 1951, Pickstown, S.D.), acting U.S. army secretary (2001).
Dahlberg, Ingrid (Margareta) (b. Dec. 12, 1941, Vetlanda, Jönköping, Sweden), governor of Dalarna (2002-06).
Dahlgaard, Bertel (b. Nov. 7, 1887, Hesthave, Denmark - d. March 31, 1972, Gentofte, Denmark), interior minister of Denmark (1929-40). He was also economy minister (1957-61).
Dahlgaard, Tyge (b. April 8, 1921, Copenhagen, Denmark - d. Dec. 20, 1985), Danish diplomat/politician; son of Bertel Dahlgaard. He was minister of commerce, shipping, and European market relations (1966-67) and ambassador to Yugoslavia (1968-72), Albania (1970-72), Japan and South Korea (1972-76), the Netherlands (1976-81), and the United Kingdom (1981-85).
Dahlgren, Hans (Eric Albert) (b. March 16, 1948, Uppsala, Sweden), Swedish diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1997-2000).
Dahlgrün, Rolf (b. May 19, 1908, Hannover, Germany - d. Dec. 19, 1969, Hamburg, West Germany), finance minister of West Germany (1962-66).
Dahlström, Jacob Axel (b. Sept. 17, 1794 - d. Nov. 22, 1860), governor of Jämtland (1848-59).
Dahrendorf, Ralf (Gustav) Dahrendorf, Baron (b. May 1, 1929, Hamburg, Germany - d. June 17, 2009, Cologne, Germany), German/British politician. He was European commissioner for external relations and external trade (1970-73) and research, science, and education (1973-74) and director of the London School of Economics (1974-84). He was knighted in 1982 and made a life peer in 1993. He took dual British nationality in 1988.
Dai, Tobias (Joaquim) (b. Nov. 25, 1950, Manica, Mozambique), defense minister of Mozambique (2000-08); brother-in-law of Armando Guebuza.
Dai Kan |
Dai Kan (b. 1880, Guiding, Guizhou, China - d. July 21, 1917, near Renshou, Sichuan, China), civil governor of Guizhou (1913-15, 1916) and military and civil governor of Sichuan (1917). He was a constitutional monarchist. He held several posts in the southwestern region after the Republic of China was founded in 1912. In 1916, following Sun Yat-sen, he led his Guizhou troops to Sichuan province to fight against the government of Duan Qirui in his southwestern region and soon took the gubernatorial posts of that province. His success in Sichuan threatened the reign of another Sichuan warlord, Gen. Liu Cunhou. He was killed or committed suicide upon the ambush launched by Liu's army in 1917.
Daianu, Daniel (b. Aug. 30, 1952, Bucharest, Romania), finance minister of Romania (1997-98).
Daim |
Daim (bin) Zainuddin, Tun (Abdul) (b. April 29, 1938, Alor Star, Kedah [now in Malaysia]), finance minister of Malaysia (1984-91, 1999-2001) and chairman of the Labuan Development Authority (1992-2000). He was awarded the title Tun on June 5, 1991.
Daio, Daniel Lima dos Santos (b. 1947), prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe (1991-92). He was also minister of defense and national security (1978-82).
Dairi, Mohamed al- (b. March 7, 1952, Tripoli, Libya), foreign minister of Libya (2014-19; internationally recognized to 2016).
Dajer Chadid, Gustavo, Dajer also spelled Dager (b. Oct. 30, 1943, Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia - d. Jan. 2, 2023, Bogotá, Colombia), Colombian politician. He was governor of Sucre (1974-75), minister of agriculture (1980-81), and president of the Senate (1981-82).
Dakhqan, Ahmad (d. April 18, 2015), Jordanian politician. He was minister of agriculture (1985-86), transport (1986-88), and water and irrigation (1988-89).
Daki, Win (Bakri) (b. May 5, 1975), defense minister of Papua New Guinea (2022, 2022-24). He has also been minister of correctional services (2020-22) and commerce and industry (2024- ).
Dakin |
Dakin, Nigel (John) (b. Feb. 28, 1964, England), governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (2019-23).
Dakov, Mako (Petrov) (b. Dec. 5, 1920, Reselets, Bulgaria - d. May 18, 2006, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy premier of Bulgaria (1971-78). He was also chairman of the Committee for Forestry and Forest Industry (1966-71).
Daku, Ahmed (Mohammed) (b. 1944), governor of Kano (1985-87) and Sokoto (1987-90).
Daladier |
Daladier, Édouard (b. June 18, 1884, Carpentras, Vaucluse, France - d. Oct. 10, 1970, Paris, France), prime minister of France (1933, 1934, 1938-40). Elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1919 as a member of the Radical Party from Vaucluse département, he quickly made his mark in Paris. He joined the Édouard Herriot government as the minister of colonies (1924-25) and thereafter was minister of war (1925, 1932-34, 1936-40), public instruction and fine arts (1925-26, 1926), public works (1930, 1930-31, 1932), and foreign affairs (1934, 1939-40, 1940), deputy prime minister (1936, 1937-38), and president of the Radical Party (1927-31, 1936-39, 1957-58). On Jan. 31, 1933, he formed his own government, but it survived only until October. In January 1934 he formed a second ministry that survived only 10 days. He continued to move in and out of ministerial assignments as he led his Radical Party into the Popular Front coalition with Léon Blum's Socialists and the Communist Party (1935). In 1938 he again became premier. Amid a deteriorating international situation, Daladier, in his effort to avoid war, joined the British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, in signing the Munich Pact with Adolf Hitler's Germany (Sept. 30, 1938). When France fell to Germany (June 1940), Daladier was one of those who sought to escape to French North Africa to set up a government-in-exile, but in Morocco he was arrested on Vichy orders and brought back to France. At his trial in Riom in February 1942, he and the other defendants accused the Philippe Pétain group of partial responsibility for the failure to prepare for war. He thereafter was handed over to the Germans, whose prisoner he remained until 1945. After the war he returned to the Chamber of Deputies (1946-58), was mayor of Avignon (1953-58), and as leader of the moribund Radical Party opposed Charles de Gaulle's new constitution of 1958. He then left politics.
Dalai Lama |
Dalai Lama, 14th, personal name rJe-btsun-'Jam-dpal-ngag-dbang-blo-bzang-ye-shes-bstan-'dzin-rgya-mtsho, also spelled Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom), original name Lhamo Dhondrub (b. July 6, 1935, Taktser village, Kokonor region, northeastern Tibet), Dalai Lama from 1939. He was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama. He was enthroned on Feb. 22, 1940. On Nov. 17, 1950, he was called upon to assume full political power after some 80,000 People's Liberation Army soldiers invaded Tibet. In 1954, he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping. His efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the Sino-Tibetan conflict were unsuccessful. A popular uprising broke out, and on March 10, 1959, Lhasa exploded with the largest demonstration in Tibetan history, calling on China to leave Tibet and reaffirming Tibet's independence. The uprising was crushed by the Chinese army, and the Dalai Lama and 100,000 other refugees fled to India, where they were given political asylum. Since 1960, he has resided in Dharamsala, India, known as "Little Lhasa," the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. In 1963, he promulgated a democratic constitution, based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a model for a future free Tibet. He publicly declared that once Tibet regains independence he will not hold political office. A series of journeys since 1967 took him to more than 40 nations. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his nonviolent campaign to end Chinese domination of Tibet. In 2011 he relinquished his political leadership role, in a move to strengthen the democratic structure of the exile government.
d'Albedyhll, Christer Henrik friherre, original surname Albedyl (b. April 19, 1679, Riga, Sweden [now in Latvia] - d. Nov. 11, 1750, Odensfors, Östergötland, Sweden), governor of Östergötland (1736-47). He was made friherre (baron) in 1720.
Dalberg |
Dalberg, Carl Theodor (Anton Maria Cämmerer von Worms,) Reichsfreiherr von (b. Feb. 8, 1744, Herrnsheim [now part of Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz] - d. Feb. 10, 1817, Regensburg, Bavaria), prince-primate of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806-13). A member of an important German noble family, he entered the church, becoming administrator of the bishopric of Erfurt in 1772. An advocate of German unity, he supported the League of Princes (Fürstenbund) formed under Friedrich II of Prussia in 1785 and, through Prussian influence, became coadjutor of Mainz and Worms in 1787 and of Konstanz in 1788. In 1802 he became archbishop elector of Mainz and so archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire; in 1803 he received the principality of Aschaffenburg and Regensburg. Dalberg, in fact, thanks to Prussian influence, was the only ecclesiastical prince to survive the reorganization of the empire effected in 1803, from which he emerged as chancellor of the empire and primate of Germany, with ecclesiastical jurisdiction over Mainz, Cologne, and Trier. He hoped to establish a national German church, but in 1805 the pope restricted him to the secular administration of his dioceses. Through Napoléon's influence, however, Frankfurt and the countships of Löwenstein-Wertheim and Rieneck were added to Dalberg's territories. He had already turned to Napoléon as the only hope for a unified Germany, and in 1806 he was appointed prince-primate of the Confederation of the Rhine. In 1810 Regensburg was ceded to Bavaria, but in compensation Dalberg received the principalities of Fulda and Hanau and the title of grand duke of Frankfurt. After the fall of Napoléon in 1814, the grand duchy was dismembered at the Congress of Vienna; Dalberg retained only the archbishopric of Regensburg.
Dalcin, Walmor Leal (b. Oct. 4, 1925, Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - d. Dec. 12?, 1999), governor of Roraima (1969-70).
Dale, Charles M(ilby) (b. March 8, 1893, Browns Valley, Minn. - d. Sept. 25, 1978, Portsmouth, N.H.), governor of New Hampshire (1945-49).
D. Dale |
Dale, David (Kenneth Hay) (b. Jan. 27, 1927 - d. Nov. 8, 2001, Somerset, England), administrator of the British Indian Ocean Territory (1975-76) and governor of Montserrat (1980-84).
D'Alema |
D'Alema, Massimo (b. April 20, 1949, Rome), prime minister (1998-2000) and deputy prime minister and foreign minister (2006-08) of Italy. At the age of 13 he joined the Communist youth organization and he became a member of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) at 19. In July 1987 he became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the district of Lecce-Brindisi-Taranto (Apulia). In 1990 he joined the top party leadership and assisted the general secretary, Achille Occhetto, who embarked on a gradual liberalization of the party towards social democracy. In February 1991 the party was renamed Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). The left wing of the party then broke away and formed the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) led by Armando Cossutta. The PDS joined the Socialist International in mid-1992. D'Alema advanced to the leadership of the PDS faction in the Chamber of Deputies in 1992. Before the general elections of March 1994 the PDS formed the "Progressives" alliance with the Socialists, the Greens, La Rete, the Democratic Alliance, and also with the PRC. This alliance of the left could not meet the high expectations, and Occhetto resigned as PDS secretary in June. His deputy, D'Alema, succeeded him. He was instrumental in creating the centre-left Ulivo (Olive Tree) alliance in February 1995 which was led by Romano Prodi. This alliance won the April 1996 elections, but D'Alema himself did not join the Prodi cabinet. In 1998 the PDS joined with various small left-wing parties to form the Left Democrats (DS). The PDS logo had a drastically scaled down hammer and sickle at the base of an oak tree, but now the old Communist emblem was ditched entirely and the DS used the red rose of European Socialism. Prodi's government fell later in 1998, and D'Alema formed a new coalition made up largely of the old Olive Tree.
Dales, Ien, byname of Catharina Isabella Dales (b. Oct. 18, 1931, Arnhem, Netherlands - d. Jan. 10, 1994, Utrecht, Netherlands), interior minister of the Netherlands (1989-94). She was also mayor of Nijmegen (1987-89).
D'Alesandro, Thomas (Ludwig John), Jr. (b. Aug. 1, 1903, Baltimore, Md. - d. Aug. 23, 1987, Baltimore), mayor of Baltimore (1947-59).
D'Alesandro, Thomas (Ludwig John), III (b. July 24, 1929, Baltimore, Md. - d. Oct. 20, 2019, Baltimore), mayor of Baltimore (1967-71); son of Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr.
Daléus |
Daléus, Lennart (b. June 25, 1946, Stockholm), Swedish politician. He has been a leading figure in Sweden's environmental movement for over 25 years. He was a founder member of Swedish Friends of the Earth and a key campaigner to dismantle Sweden's nuclear industry. An active member of the Centre Party since 1980 and a member of parliament since 1991, he chaired the standing committee on agriculture and was chairman of the government's eco-cycle delegation responsible for developing an eco-cycle concept for Sweden. Daléus was elected party chairman in June 1998, replacing Olof Johansson. He resigned in January 2001.
R.J. Daley |
Daley, Richard J(oseph) (b. May 15, 1902, Bridgeport area, Chicago, Ill. - d. Dec. 20, 1976, Chicago), mayor of Chicago (1955-76). By the time he was 21, he was a precinct captain in the local Democratic Party. He served as a state representative (1936-38) and senator (1938-46), state director of revenue (1948-50), and clerk of Cook County (1950-55) before being elected mayor, which at that time was only a confirmation of his status as the city's leading Democrat (in 1953 he had become chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party). He was reelected five times with generally substantial majorities. During his mayoralty he gained the confidence of the business community through large-scale urban renewal and highway construction projects and through a sweeping reform of the police department. Daley's administration was criticized, however, for its reluctance to check racial segregation in housing and in the public schools; for its encouragement of the construction of tall office buildings in the downtown area; and for its measures taken against demonstrators during the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Daley was called "the last of the big-city bosses" because of his tight control of Chicago politics through widespread job patronage. He attained great power in national Democratic Party politics, being a deciding factor at national conventions, and many believe that the Cook County machine's ability to produce badly needed votes from the graveyards was what won Illinois for John F. Kennedy in 1960, who narrowly carried the state and thus defeated Richard Nixon in the nation. Daley's last years were marred by scandals centred on members of his administration, though none of these touched the mayor himself. He died in office.
R.M. Daley |
Daley, Richard M(ichael) (b. April 24, 1942, Bridgeport area, Chicago, Ill.), mayor of Chicago (1989-2011). He was the first of four sons of Richard J. Daley, who groomed him for public office, and the Daley political machine gave him a job in the city attorney's office after he passed the bar exam on the third attempt. Later, Daley won election to the Illinois Senate, filling a vacancy his father had arranged. In 1980 Daley was elected to the first of three terms as Cook County state's attorney, despite the opposition of several prominent Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne. Three years later he ran against Byrne for mayor, a move that split the white vote and ensured the historic election of Harold Washington, who enjoyed monolithic support from the black community. Washington's death from a heart attack in late 1987 cleared the path for another Daley run for mayor. He beat black Acting Mayor Eugene Sawyer in the Democratic primary in February 1989 and black independent Alderman Timothy Evans, by a margin of almost 15 points, in the general election in April. In a race shaped by race, Daley won by garnering the votes of more than 90% of the whites who cast ballots, including many of the affluent, independent-minded lakefront residents who had voted for Washington in 1983 and 1987. Daley's election represented the first time since 1971 that a white had replaced a black as mayor of a major U.S. city. That fact alarmed some Chicago blacks, who feared that Daley would revive the "plantation politics" they felt had characterized his father's 21-year reign (1955-76). But the new mayor vowed to reach out to minorities, a promise he began to fulfill in May 1989 when he appointed blacks and Hispanics to head several of the city's largest departments. He was reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007.
Daley, William M(ichael) (b. Aug. 8, 1948, Chicago, Ill.), U.S. secretary of commerce (1997-2000) and White House chief of staff (2011-12); son of Richard J. Daley; brother of Richard M. Daley. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Chicago in 2019.
Dalgamouni, Fadel al- (b. 1910, Irbid, Ottoman Empire [now in Jordan] - d. ...), finance minister of Jordan (1969). He was also governor of Jerusalem (1961-63) and minister of communications (1965-66).
Dalgat, Magomed (Alibekovich) (b. March 18 [March 6, O.S.], 1893, Urakhi, Dagestan oblast [now republic], Russia - d. 1942), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee (1924-27) and chairman of the Central Executive Committee (1928-37) of the Dagestan A.S.S.R.
Dalhousie, Fox Maule-Ramsay, (11th) Earl of, original name Fox Maule (b. April 22, 1801, Brechin Castle, Forfarshire [now Angus], Scotland - d. July 6, 1874, Brechin Castle), British secretary at war (1846-52) and secretary of state for war (1855-58); nephew of George Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie. He was also president of the Board of Control (1852). He succeeded as (2nd) Baron Panmure in 1852 and as Earl of Dalhousie in 1860 and added Ramsay to his name in 1861.
Dalhousie, George Ramsay, (9th) Earl of (b. Oct. 22, 1770, Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland - d. March 21, 1838, Dalhousie Castle), governor of Nova Scotia (1816-20) and Lower Canada (1819-28). He succeeded to the (Scottish) earldom in 1787 and was created Baron Dalhousie in the U.K. peerage in 1815.
Dalhousie, James Andrew Broun Ramsay, (1st) Marquess and (10th) Earl of (b. April 22, 1812, Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland - d. Dec. 19, 1860, Dalhousie Castle), governor-general of India (1848-56); son of George Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie. He was also president of the British Board of Trade (1845-46). He succeeded to the earldom in 1838 and was created marquess in 1849.
Dalhousie, Simon Ramsay, (16th) Earl of (b. Oct. 17, 1914 - d. July 15, 1999), governor-general of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1957-63); great-great-grandson of cousin of Fox Maule-Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie. He succeeded as earl in 1950.
Dali, Abdul Aziz al- (b. 1940), foreign minister of Yemen (Aden) (1982-90). He was also health minister (1969-77, 1980-82) and ambassador to the Soviet Union (1977-80).
Dalic, Martina (b. Nov. 12, 1967, Velika Gorica, Croatia), finance minister of Croatia (2010-11). She was also minister of economy, entrepreneurship, and crafts and a deputy prime minister (2016-18).
Dalimier, Albert (François Marie) (b. Feb. 20, 1875, Bordeaux, Gironde, France - d. May 6, 1936, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Seine [now in Hauts-de-Seine], France), deputy prime minister and justice minister of France (1933). He was also minister of labour and social security (1932-33) and colonies (1933, 1933-34).
Dalkin, Robert Nixon (b. Feb. 21, 1914, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England - d. Nov. 18, 1991, Canberra, Australia), administrator of Norfolk Island (1968-72).
Dalla, Moacyr (b. March 10, 1927, Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil - d. Aug. 20, 2006, Guarapari, Espírito Santo), Brazilian politician. He was president of the Senate (1983-85).
Dalla Torre |
Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, Giacomo (b. Dec. 9, 1944, Rome, Italy - d. April 29, 2020, Rome), grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (2008 [acting], 2017-20).
Dallas, Alexander J(ames) (b. June 21, 1759, Kingston, Jamaica - d. Jan. 16, 1817, Philadelphia, Pa.), U.S. treasury secretary (1814-16).
Dallas, George M(ifflin) (b. July 10, 1792, Philadelphia, Pa. - d. Dec. 31, 1864, Philadelphia), U.S. vice president (1845-49); son of Alexander J. Dallas. He was also mayor of Philadelphia (1828-29) and minister to Russia (1837-39) and the United Kingdom (1856-61).
Dallerès | J. Dalli |
Dallerès Codina, Josep (b. Feb. 14, 1949), general syndic of Andorra (1994-97, 2009-11).
Dalli, Helena, née Abela (b. Sept. 29, 1962, Zabbar, Malta), Maltese politician. She has been minister of social dialogue, consumer affairs, and civil liberties (2013-17) and European affairs and equality (2017-19) and EU commissioner for equality (2019- ).
Dalli, John (b. Oct. 5, 1948, Qormi, Malta), finance minister (1992-96, 1998-2004) and foreign minister (2004) of Malta. He was also minister of economic affairs (1990-92). In 2010 he became Malta's EU commissioner, responsible for health and consumer policy; he resigned in 2012 after an anti-fraud inquiry linked him to an attempt to influence tobacco legislation.
Dalling and Bulwer, (William) Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, (1st) Baron (b. Feb. 13, 1801, London, England - d. May 23, 1872, Naples, Italy), British diplomat; son-in-law of Henry Wellesley, Baron Cowley. He was minister to Spain (1844-48), the United States (1849-52), and Tuscany (1852-54) and ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (1858-65). He was knighted in 1848 and made baron in 1871.
Dallinger, Waldemar, Russian Vladimir (Fyodorovich) Dalinger (b. Oct. 27 [Oct. 14, O.S.], 1902, Astrakhan, Russia - d. February 1987, Karaganda, Kazakh S.S.R.), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Volga German A.S.S.R. (1937-38). He was also people's commissar of interior (1937).
Dallot-Béfio, Augustin (b. Dec. 17, 1931, Boali, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic] - d. Jan. 5, 1996, Bangui, Central African Republic), Central African Republic politician. He was minister of public works, river and road transportation (1973), veterans (1973-74), public health and social affairs (1974-75), and justice and labour (1975-76).
Dalloul, Mohsen (b. 1933, Bekaa Valley region, Lebanon), defense minister of Lebanon (1992-98). He was also agriculture minister (1989-92).
Dalman, Lars, original surname Dahlman (b. 1680, Stockholm, Sweden - d. Jan. 27, 1752, Karlskrona, Sweden), governor of Blekinge (1747-52). He was ennobled under the name Dalman in 1720.
Dalmatov, Ivan (Petrovich) (b. 1905 - d. 1968, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was a deputy premier of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1947-49) and rector of Moscow State Pedagogical Institute (1960-63).
Dalrymple, Jack, byname of John Stewart Dalrymple III (b. Oct. 16, 1948, Minneapolis, Minn.), governor of North Dakota (2010-16).
Dalsager, Poul (Christian) (b. March 5, 1929, Hirtshals, Denmark - d. May 2, 2001, Hjørring, Denmark), Danish politician. He was minister of agriculture (1975-78, 1979-81) and fisheries (1975-77, 1979-81) and European commissioner for agriculture (1981-85).
Dalström, Gustaf Jacob af (b. July 25, 1785, Stockholm, Sweden - d. Jan. 22, 1867, Stockholm), governor of Gotland (1849-58). He was ennobled (adding "af") in 1833.
Dalton, Charles (b. June 9, 1850, Tignish, Prince Edward Island - d. Dec. 9, 1933, Charlottetown, P.E.I.), lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island (1930-33).
Dalton, (Edward) Hugh (John Neale) Dalton, Baron (b. Aug. 26, 1887, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales - d. Feb. 13, 1962, London, England), British chancellor of the exchequer (1945-47). He was also chairman of the Labour Party (1936-37), minister of economic warfare (1940-42), president of the Board of Trade (1942-45), chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1948-50), and minister of town and country planning (1950-51) and local government and planning (1951). He was created a life peer in 1960.
Dalton, John (Nichols) (b. July 11, 1931, Emporia, Va. - d. July 30, 1986, Richmond, Va.), governor of Virginia (1978-82).
Dalton, John M(ontgomery) (b. Nov. 9, 1900, Vernon county, Mo. - d. July 7, 1972, Jefferson City, Mo.), governor of Missouri (1961-65).
S. Dalton |
Dalton, Sir Stephen (Gary George) (b. April 23, 1954, Leicester, England), lieutenant governor of Jersey (2017-22); knighted 2009. He was also British chief of the air staff (2009-13).
Daltro, Manuel de Cerqueira, Filho (b. Nov. 2, 1882, Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil - d. Jan. 19, 1938, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), federal interventor in São Paulo (1933) and Rio Grande do Sul (1937-38).
D'Alva, Maria Antonieta Pinto Lopes, Guinea-Bissau diplomat. She was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (2020-21).
Daly, Brendan (b. Feb. 2, 1940, Cooraclare, County Clare, Ireland - d. July 6, 2023), defence minister of Ireland (1991). He was also minister of fisheries and forestry (1982), marine (1987-89), and social welfare (1991-92).
Daly, Sir Clive Kirkpatrick (b. April 3, 1888, New Zealand - d. Sept. 17, 1966, Hampshire, England), British political agent in Bahrain (1921-26); knighted 1946.
D. Daly |
Daly, Sir Dominick (b. Aug. 11, 1798, Ardfry, County Galway, Ireland - d. Feb. 19, 1868, Adelaide, South Australia), acting premier of Canada (1843). He took part in the Draper-Ogden (1841-42) and Baldwin-Lafontaine (1842-43) ministries, but contrary to the rest of the cabinet did not resign on Nov. 27, 1843, so he remained as sole minister until a new cabinet was formed on December 12. He was lieutenant governor of Tobago (1852) and governor of Prince Edward Island (1854-59). In 1862 he became governor of South Australia, where he died in office. He was knighted in 1856.
Daly, Henry Lawrence (b. Jan. 29, 1856 - d. 19...), acting administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia (1897-98).
Daly, Sir Hugh (b. May 29, 1860 - d. Aug. 25, 1939, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England), resident in Mysore and chief commissioner of Coorg (1910-16); knighted 1911.
Daly, Sir Malachy Bowes (b. Feb. 6, 1836, Québec, Lower Canada [now Que.] - d. April 26, 1920, Halifax, N.S.), lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia (1890-1900); knighted 1900; son of Sir Dominick Daly.
Daly, Thomas Mayne (b. Aug. 16, 1852, Stratford, Canada West [now Ont.] - d. June 24, 1911, Winnipeg, Man.), interior minister of Canada (1892-96). He was also superintendent-general of Indian affairs (1892-96) and acting secretary of state and acting justice minister (1896).
Dalyell, Sir Robert Anstruther (b. May 5, 1831 - d. Jan. 18, 1890, Edinburgh, Scotland), acting chief commissioner of Mysore and Coorg (1875-76); knighted 1887.
Dalyell of the Binns, (Percy) Gordon, original surname (until 1938) Loch (b. Jan. 16, 1887, Ealing, Middlesex [now part of London], England - d. Sept. 15, 1953), British political agent in Bahrain (1916-18, 1932-37) and Kuwait (1918).
A.P. Dam |
Dam, Atli P(æturssonur) (b. Sept. 12, 1932, Tvøroyri, Faeroe Islands - d. Feb. 7, 2005, Tórshavn, Faeroe Islands), prime minister of the Faeroe Islands (1970-81, 1985-89, 1991-93); son of Peter Mohr Dam. He was also minister of transport and fisheries (1970).
K.W. Dam | P.M. Dam |
Dam, Kenneth W(illard) (b. Aug. 10, 1932, Marysville, Kan. - d. May 31, 2022, Long Grove, Ill.), acting U.S. treasury secretary (2003).
Dam, Peter Mohr (b. Aug. 11, 1898, Skopun, Faeroe Islands - d. Nov. 8, 1968, Tórshavn, Faeroe Islands), prime minister of the Faeroe Islands (1959-63, 1967-68).
Dam Quang Trung (b. Sept. 12, 1921, Soc Ha commune, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province, Tonkin [now in Vietnam] - d. March 3, 1995, Hanoi, Vietnam), a vice chairman of the State Council of Vietnam (1987-92).
Dam van Isselt, Edmond Willem van (b. Feb. 20, 1796, Breda, Batavian Republic [now Netherlands] - d. Feb. 9, 1860, Geldermalsen [now part of West Betuwe], Gelderland, Netherlands), Dutch politician. He was chairman of the Second Chamber (1841-42).
Damanaki, Maria (b. May 31, 1952, Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece), Greek politician. She was EU commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries (2010-14).
Damas, Ange Hyacinthe Maxence, baron de (b. Sept. 30, 1785, Paris, France - d. May 6, 1862, Paris), war minister (1823-24) and foreign minister (1824-28) of France.
Damas(-Aléka), Georges (b. Nov. 18, 1902, Libreville, Gabon - d. May 4, 1982, Libreville), Gabonese politician. He was ambassador to the Benelux countries (1961-64) and West Germany (1963-64) and president of the National Assembly (1964-75). He also composed the Gabonese national anthem.
Damas, Michael J(oseph) (b. Nov. 8, 1912, Charleston, W.Va. - d. April 13, 2003, Toledo, Ohio), mayor of Toledo (1959-61). Born to parents who fled their village in Lebanon to avoid service in the Ottoman military, he grew up in a Toledo neighbourhood called "Little Syria." He was involved in politics for about 50 years. A Democrat, he won election to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1948, serving three two-year terms. Four terms on the Toledo city council followed, and in 1959 he was elected as the first Arab-American mayor of a large U.S. city. In 1961 he was defeated in the primary. Later he was president of the Toledo school board.
Damásio, Virgílio Clímaco (b. Jan. 21, 1838, Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil - d. Nov. 21, 1913, Salvador, Bahia), governor of Bahia (1889 and [acting] 1890).
Damaskinos |
Damaskinos, original name Dimitrios (Nikolaou) Papandreou (b. March 3, 1891, Dorvitsa, Greece - d. May 20, 1949, Athens, Greece), regent of Greece (1944-46). He was a private in the army during the Balkan War of 1912 and was ordained priest in 1917. He settled nationalist quarrels of the Greek, Serbian, and Bulgarian monks in the monastery on Mount Athos. In 1922 he became bishop of Corinth, and in 1938 he was elected archbishop of Athens. His election was voided by Premier Ioannis Metaxas because of his opposition to Metaxas' regime, and Bishop Chrysanthos of Trebizond was appointed instead. Damaskinos was exiled to the mountain monastery of Phaneromeni on Salamis but then recalled in July 1941, after Greece had been occupied by the Germans during World War II, to replace Chrysanthos. As archbishop, he opposed the German occupation and urged the concealment of Jews to save them from the Nazis. On visits to German military headquarters, he carried a length of rope with him; when the Nazis became angry, he would say, "If you wish to hang me, here is the rope." On Dec. 31, 1944, during the civil war initiated by the Communist-controlled guerrilla forces after the Germans left, Damaskinos was appointed regent with the permission of King Georgios II, then in exile. His integrity and impartiality made him the only person available for this position who was widely acceptable, though he was assailed by both extreme right and extreme left factions. During the subsequent 16 months of political crisis, Damaskinos appointed five premiers, and, in October 1945, himself formed an interim cabinet. He resigned as regent on Sept. 5, 1946, four days after the Greeks voted in a plebiscite in favour of the monarchy; the king returned on September 27. Thereafter, Damaskinos devoted himself to his archiepiscopal duties.
Dambazau, Abdulrahman (Bello) (b. March 14, 1954, Zaria [now in Kaduna state], Nigeria), interior minister of Nigeria (2015-19). He was also chief of army staff (2008-10).
Dambe, Amos (Manyangwa) (b. March 30, 1911, Nswazwi, near Francistown, Bechuanaland [now Botswana] - d. 1991), home affairs minister of Botswana (1966-69). He was also minister of mines, commerce, and industry (1965-66), works and communications (1969-70), and agriculture (1970-72) and ambassador to the United States and high commissioner to Canada (1972-76).
Damberg, (Lars) Mikael (b. Oct. 13, 1971, Solna, Stockholm county, Sweden), interior minister (2019-21) and finance minister (2021-22) of Sweden. He was also minister of enterprise and innovation (2014-19).
Dambitis, Roberts (b. May 2, 1881, Trikata parish, Russia [now in Latvia] - d. March 27, 1957, Trikata, Latvian S.S.R.), war minister of Latvia (1940).
D'Ambrosio |
D'Ambrosio, Vanessa (b. April 26, 1988, Borgo Maggiore, San Marino), captain-regent of San Marino (2017).
Dambui, Cherubim (Alfred) (b. Feb. 23, 1948, Timbunke [now in East Sepik province], Papua New Guinea - d. June 24, 2010, Manila, Philippines), premier of East Sepik (1976-83).
Damerval (Martínez), Jaime (Francisco) (b. Nov. 19, 1940, Guayaquil, Ecuador), interior minister of Ecuador (2004-05). He was a minor presidential candidate in 2006.
Dames, Marvin (Hanlon) (b. Nov. 15, 1964), national security minister of The Bahamas (2017- ).
Damiani (Bustillos), Rafael (b. 1948, Caracas, Venezuela), interior minister of Venezuela (2002).
Damiba |
Damiba, Paul-Henri Sandaogo, transitional president (2022) and defense minister (2022) of Burkina Faso.
Damilano Bonfante, Renato (Carlos) (b. 1917 - d. 2014), justice minister of Chile (1977).
Damjanac, Branko (b. April 15, 1947), mayor of Brcko (2003-04).
Damjanovic, Aleksandar (b. Dec. 22, 1969, Titograd [now Podgorica], Montenegro), finance minister of Montenegro (2022-23).
Damjanovski, Risto (b. May 25, 1937, Dolenci, Demir Hisar, Yugoslavia [now in North Macedonia] - d. March 30, 2021, Skopje, North Macedonia), defense minister of Macedonia (1991).
Damongo-Dadet, Emmanuel J(oachim) (b. Aug. 18, 1914 - d. March 1973), Congo (Brazzaville) politician. He was minister of public works and transport (1958-60) and permanent representative to the United Nations and ambassador to the United States (1961-64).
Dampilon, Irilto (Dampilonovich) (b. 1904, Edermik ulus, Zabaykalsky oblast [now in Buryatia], Russia - d. [executed] June 23, 1938, Ulan-Ude, Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. [now Buryatia, Russia]), chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R. (1934-37).
Damrémont, Charles (Marie) Denys, comte de (b. Feb. 8, 1783, Chaumont, Haute-Marne, France - d. [killed] Oct. 13, 1837, Constantine, Algeria), governor-general of Algeria (1837).
Damseaux, André (Raphael Jean-Marie Maurice Antoine) (b. March 5, 1937, Verviers, Belgium - d. March 29, 2007, Verviers), chairman of the Executive of Wallonia (1982). He was also Belgian minister of francophone education (1985-87) and mayor of Verviers (1989-95).
Damyanov, Georgi (Purvanov) (b. Sept. 23, 1892, Lopushna [now Georgi Damyanovo], near Ferdinand [now Montana], Bulgaria - d. Nov. 27, 1958, Sofia, Bulgaria), defense minister (1946-50) and chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly (1950-58) of Bulgaria.
Damyanov (Raykov), Rayko (b. Jan. 5, 1904 [Dec. 23, 1903, O.S.], Gergini, Bulgaria - d. July 17, 1986, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy premier (1950-57) and a first deputy premier (1957-62) of Bulgaria. He was also president of the National Assembly (1947-49), chairman of the State Committee for Construction and Architecture (1956-58), and minister of trade (1957, 1959).
Dan, Carmen (Daniela) (b. Oct. 9, 1970, Bucharest, Romania), interior minister of Romania (2017-19).
Dan Dobi, Mahamane (b. 1923, Guéchémé [now in Dosso region], Niger - d. May 13, 1981, Niamey, Niger), justice minister of Niger (1965-70). He was also minister of public works (1970-72) and rural economy (1972-74).
Dana, John W(inchester) (b. June 21, 1808, Fryeburg, Mass. [now in Maine] - d. Dec. 22, 1867, Rosario, Argentina), governor of Maine (1844 [acting], 1847-50).
Danaya, Bob Tawa (b. March 16, 1955), governor of Western province, Papua New Guinea (2002-12).
Danchev (Petkov), Petko (b. Nov. 27, 1949, Pravets, Bulgaria - d. May 11, 2012), a deputy premier of Bulgaria (1989).
Danchikova | Dancila |
Danchikova, Galina (Innokentyevna) (b. Aug. 13, 1954), prime minister of Sakha (2010-16).
Dancila, (Vasilica) Viorica (b. Dec. 16, 1963, Rosiori de Vede, Romania), prime minister of Romania (2018-19). She was a presidential candidate in 2019.
Danckwardt, Peter friherre von (b. June 4, 1662, Norrköping, Sweden - d. April 20, 1732), governor of Kopparberg (1723-32). He was made friherre (baron) in 1726.
Dancoisne-Martineau, Michel (Charles Yves) (b. 1965?), conservator of the French possessions on St. Helena (1987- ); adopted son (1986) of Gilbert Martineau.
Danda |
Danda, Mahamadou (b. July 25, 1951, Tahoua, Niger), prime minister of Niger (2010-11). He was also minister of animal husbandry and water affairs (1987-88) and communication, culture, youth, and sports (1999).
Dandavate, Madhu (b. Jan. 21, 1924, Ahmednagar [now in Maharashtra], India - d. Nov. 12, 2005, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India), finance minister of India (1989-90). He was also minister of railways (1977-79).
Dane, Sir Louis William (b. March 21, 1856 - d. Feb. 22, 1946), British resident in Jammu and Kashmir (1901-03) and lieutenant governor of Punjab (1908-13); knighted 1905.
Danel, Henri (Eloi) (b. Sept. 23, 1850, Béthune, Pas-de-Calais, France - d. March 18, 1900, Diala, Senegal [now in Mali]), lieutenant governor of Cochinchina (1889-92) and governor of Réunion (1893-95) and French Guiana (1896-98).
Daneo, Edoardo (b. Oct. 13, 1851, Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia [now in Italy] - d. July 17, 1922, Turin), finance minister of Italy (1914-16). He was also minister of education (1909-10, 1914).
Danescu, George Ioan (b. Oct. 30, 1938, Ploesti [now Ploiesti], Romania - d. June 7, 2002, Bucharest, Romania), interior minister of Romania (1992-94).
Danese, Sérgio França (b. 1954, São Paulo, Brazil), Brazilian diplomat. He has been ambassador to Algeria (2005-09), Argentina (2016-20), South Africa (2020-22), and Peru (2022-23) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2023- ).
Danesh-Jafari, Davoud (b. 1954, Tehran, Iran), economy and finance minister of Iran (2005-08).
Danev, Stoyan (Petrov) (b. Feb. 9 [Jan. 28, O.S.], 1858, Sumnu, Ottoman Empire [now Shumen, Bulgaria] - d. July 30, 1949, Sofia, Bulgaria), foreign minister (1901-03, 1913), prime minister (1902-03, 1913), and finance minister (1918-20) of Bulgaria.
Danforth, John (Claggett) (b. Sept. 5, 1936, St. Louis, Mo.), U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (2004-05). He was also a U.S. senator from Missouri (1976-95).
Dang Dinh Quy (b. 1961, Nam Dinh province, North Vietnam [now in Vietnam]), Vietnamese diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2018-22).
Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnamese diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2022- ).
Dang Thi |
Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (b. Dec. 25, 1959, Duy Trinh, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, South Vietnam [now in Vietnam]), vice president (2016-21) and acting president (2018) of Vietnam. She was also secretary of the party committee of Vinh Long province (2010-15).
Dang Viet Chau (b. July 2, 1914, Mua village, Thai Binh province, Tonkin [now in Vietnam] - d. May 21, 1990, Hanoi, Vietnam), finance minister (1965-74) and a deputy premier (1974-76) of North Vietnam. He was also director-general of the State Bank (1975-76), minister of foreign trade (1976-80), and minister of the prime minister's office (1981) of (North) Vietnam.
D'Angelo, Giuseppe (b. Nov. 15, 1913, Calascibetta, Sicilia, Italy - d. Dec. 18, 1991), president of Sicilia (1961-64).
Dangue Rewaka, Denis (b. July 25, 1944, Port-Gentil, Gabon - d. July 30, 2009, Eaubonne, Val-d'Oise, France), Gabonese diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1988-2008).
Daniel, Bill, byname of William Partlow Daniel (b. Nov. 20, 1915, Dayton, Texas - d. June 20, 2006, Liberty, Texas), governor of Guam (1961-63); brother of Price Daniel.
Daniel, Lara Erab, née Atto, Nauruan diplomat. She has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2024- ).
Daniel, Otunba Gbenga, full name Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel (b. April 6, 1956, Ibadan [now in Oyo state], Nigeria), governor of Ogun (2003-11).
Daniel, (Marion) Price (b. Oct. 10, 1910, Dayton, Texas - d. Aug. 25, 1988, Liberty, Texas), governor of Texas (1957-63); great-great-grandson-in-law of Sam Houston.
Daniel, Rowland Mortimer (b. 1873, Pembrokeshire, Wales - d. Dec. 13, 1957, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe]), resident commissioner of Bechuanaland (1928-30).
Daniel, Simeon (b. Aug. 22, 1934, Barnes Ghaut village, Nevis - d. May 27, 2012), finance minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis (1980-84) and premier of Nevis (1983-92).
Daniel-S. |
Daniel-Selvaratnam, Dileeni (b. 1976?, Shropshire, England), governor of Anguilla (2021-23) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (2023- ).
Danielescu, George (b. Sept. 9, 1949, Bucharest, Romania), finance minister of Romania (1991-92).
Danieli, Akili B(ernard) C(haggi) (b. 1935, Pare, Tanganyika [now in Tanzania] - d. Nov. 3, 1969, New York City), Tanzanian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1968-69).
Danielo-Feucher |
Danielo-Feucher, Sylvie, née Danielo (b. Feb. 26, 1959, Brest, France), prefect of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin (2018-20). In 2020 she was named prefect of Ariège département.
Daniels, Josephus (b. May 18, 1862, Washington, N.C. - d. Jan. 15, 1948, Raleigh, N.C.), U.S. secretary of the navy (1913-21); grandson-in-law of Jonathan Worth. He was also ambassador to Mexico (1933-41).
Daniels, Mitch(ell Elias, Jr.) (b. April 7, 1949, Monongahela, Pa.), governor of Indiana (2005-13).
Danielson, (Berndt) Gunnar (Emil) (b. Aug. 18, 1901, Stockholm, Sweden - d. Sept. 18, 1958), governor of Stockholm (1952-58).
Danielsson, (Sven) Anders (Herman) (b. Dec. 27, 1953, Hököpinge, Malmöhus [now in Skåne], Sweden), governor of Västra Götaland (2017-21). He was also director-general of the Swedish Security Service (2007-12) and the Swedish Migration Agency (2012-16).
Danielyan | Dañino |
Danielyan, Anushavan (Surenovich), original surname Danelyan (b. Sept. 1, 1956, Seydishen, Askeran region, Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblast, Azerbaijan S.S.R.), prime minister of Nagorno-Karabakh (1999-2007).
Danilovic, Goran (b. Jan. 5, 1971, Titograd [now Podgorica], Montenegro), interior minister of Montenegro (2016). He was a minor presidential candidate in 2023.
Danilson-Järg, Lea (b. Nov. 27, 1977, Tallinn, Estonian S.S.R.), justice minister of Estonia (2022-23).
Danin, José de Araujo Roso (d. Oct. 19, 1895, Belém, Pará, Brazil), acting president of Pará (1884, 1885, 1889, 1889).
Dañino (Zapata), Roberto (b. March 2, 1951, Lima), prime minister of Peru (2001-02). He was ambassador to the United States in 2002-04.
Danioth, Hans (b. May 25, 1931, Andermatt, Uri, Switzerland - d. Aug. 22, 2020, Altdorf, Uri), Landammann of Uri (1980-82); son of Ludwig Danioth.
Danioth, Ludwig (b. March 11, 1902, Schattdorf, Uri, Switzerland - d. June 9, 1996, Andermatt, Uri), Landammann of Uri (1952-54, 1956-60, 1966-68) and president of the Council of States of Switzerland (1963-64).
Danish, Mohammad Sarwar (b. 1961, Ishtarlay district, Oruzgan province [now in Daikundi province], Afghanistan), second vice president of Afghanistan (2014-21). He was also governor of Daikundi (2004) and minister of justice (2004-10) and higher education (acting, 2010-12).
Daniyalov, Abdurakhman (Daniyalovich) (b. Aug. 22 [Aug. 10, O.S.], 1908, Rugudzha, Dagestan oblast [now republic], Russia - d. April 24, 1981, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars/Council of Ministers (1940-48), first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1948-67), and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1967-70) of the Dagestan A.S.S.R. He was also people's commissar of agriculture (1937-39).
Dankert, Piet(er) (b. Jan. 8, 1934, Stiens, Friesland, Netherlands - d. June 21, 2003, Perpignan, France), president of the European Parliament (1982-84).
Danko, Uladzimir (Antonavich) (b. Dec. 14, 1941, Servech, Grodno oblast, Belorussian S.S.R. - d. June 19?, 2018), interior minister of Belarus (1994).
Dankwambo, Ibrahim (Hassan) (b. April 4, 1962, Gombe [now in Gombe state], Nigeria), governor of Gombe (2011-19).
Dankwort, (Karl) Werner (b. Aug. 13, 1895, Gumbinnen, East Prussia, Germany [now Gusev, Kaliningrad oblast, Russia] - d. Dec. 15, 1986, Hyannis, Mass.), West German diplomat. He was ambassador to Canada (1951-56) and Brazil (1956-58) and permanent observer to the United Nations (1958-60).
D'Annunzio |
D'Annunzio, Gabriele, (from March 15, 1924) principe di Montenevoso (b. March 12, 1863, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy - d. March 1, 1938, Gardone Riviera, on Lake Garda), Italian political leader. He was a famous writer, but when his works failed to finance his extravagant lifestyle, he fled from his creditors to France in 1910. When World War I broke out, he returned to Italy to passionately urge his country's entry into the war. After Italy declared war he plunged into the fighting himself, seeking out dangerous assignments in several branches of the service, finally in the air force, where he lost an eye in combat. He was bitterly disappointed in seeing Italy, as he thought, robbed of her due at the peace conference, and he told the Allied statesmen his opinion of them in no measured terms. In September 1919 D'Annunzio and about 300 supporters, in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles, occupied the Dalmatian port of Fiume (Rijeka in present-day Croatia), which the Italian government and the Allies were proposing to incorporate into the new Yugoslav state but which D'Annunzio believed rightly belonged to Italy. He was given an extraordinary welcome, and ruled Fiume as dictator until December 1920, at which time Italian military forces compelled him to abdicate his rule. Nevertheless, by his bold action he had established Italy's interest in Fiume, and the port became Italian in 1924. D'Annunzio subsequently became an ardent Fascist and was rewarded by Benito Mussolini with a title and a national edition of his works, but he exercised no further influence on Italian politics.
Danon, Danny (b. May 8, 1971, Ramat Gan, Israel), Israeli politician. He has been minister of science, technology, and space (2015) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2015-20, 2024- ).
Danov, Hristo (Veselinov) (b. Jan. 19, 1922, Sofia, Bulgaria - d. Feb. 17, 2003), interior minister of Bulgaria (1990-91). He was also chairman of the Constitutional Court (2000-03).
Danquah, J(oseph Kwame Kyeretwi) B(oakye) (b. Dec. 21, 1895, Bepong, Gold Coast [now in Ghana] - d. Feb. 4, 1965, Nsawam, Ghana), Ghanaian politician. He was co-founder of the United Gold Coast Convention (1947) and a presidential candidate (1960). He was imprisoned in 1961-62 and 1964-65.
Danson, Barnett Jerome, byname Barney Danson (b. Feb. 8, 1921, Toronto, Ont. - d. Oct. 17, 2011, Toronto), defence minister of Canada (1976-79).
Dantas, Antonio Bazilio Ribeiro (b. June 13, 1828, São José de Mipibu, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil - d. Nov. 21, 1894, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte), acting president of Rio Grande do Norte (1867, 1868, 1882-83, 1884, 1885, 1889, 1889).
Dantas, António Eleutério (d. June 7, 1882, Luanda, Angola), governor-general of Angola (1880-82).
Dantas, Antônio Fernandes (b. May 18, 1881, Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil - d. Jan. 20, 1966, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), federal interventor in Bahia (1937-38) and Rio Grande do Norte (1943-45).
Dantas, Antonio Leonardo da Silveira (b. Feb. 1, 1858, Divina Pastora, Sergipe, Brazil - d. Feb. 15, 1919, Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil), acting president of Sergipe (1896, 1896).
Dantas, Dionizio Rodrigues (b. July 1832, Estância, Sergipe, Brazil - d. May 3, 1880, Aracaju, Sergipe), acting president of Sergipe (1869, 1871).
Dantas, Francisco Clementino de San Tiago (b. Aug. 30, 1911, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - d. Sept. 6, 1964, Rio de Janeiro), foreign minister (1961-62) and finance minister (1963) of Brazil.
Dantas, Francisco Wanderley (b. Oct. 22, 1932, Porto Acre, Acre, Brazil - d. May 24, 1982, Brasília, Brazil), governor of Acre (1971-75).
Dantas, Manoel Corrêa (b. Dec. 22, 1874, Santa Rosa de Lima, Divina Pastora municipality, Sergipe, Brazil - d. June 5, 1937, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil), president of Sergipe (1926 [acting], 1926-27 [acting], 1927-30).
Dantas, Manoel Pinto de Souza (b. Feb. 21, 1831, São Salvador da Bahia [now Salvador], Brazil - d. Jan. 29, 1894, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), chairman of the Council of Ministers and finance minister (1884-85) and foreign minister (1884-85) of Brazil. He was also president of Alagoas (1859-60) and Bahia (1865-66), minister of agriculture (1866-68) and justice (1880-82), and president of the Bank of Brazil (1889-94).
Dantas, Manoel Pinto de Souza, Filho (b. Oct. 18, 1852, São Salvador da Bahia [now Salvador], Brazil - d. Aug. 25, 1937, Paris, France), president of Paraná (1879-80) and Pará (1881-82); son of Manoel Pinto de Souza Dantas.
P.S. Dantas |
Dantas, Paulo Suruagy do Amaral (b. March 19, 1979, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil), governor of Alagoas (2022- ).
Dantas, Rodolpho Epiphanio de Souza (b. Oct. 14, 1854, São Salvador da Bahia [now Salvador], Brazil - d. Sept. 12, 1901, Paris, France), interior minister (1882) and acting justice minister (1882) of Brazil; son of Manoel Pinto de Souza Dantas; brother of Manoel Pinto de Souza Dantas Filho.
Danton, Georges Jacques (b. Oct. 26, 1759, Arcis-sur-Aube [now in Aube département], France - d. April 5, 1794, Paris, France), French revolutionary leader. Following the outbreak of the 1789 French Revolution, he founded the Cordeliers' Club with Jean-Paul Marat and Camille Desmoulins in 1790. In 1791 he became increasingly prominent in the revolutionary movement and for some time fled to England. In 1792 he became minister of justice following the fall of the monarchy, for which he was largely credited. When the country was threatened by invading Prussians and Austrians, Danton stepped into the vacuum; refusing to move the government out of Paris, he insisted that the successful defense of France depended on the capital's revolutionary energy. Elected to the National Convention in September 1792, he voted for the death of the ex-king in January 1793. His dealings with Gen. Charles Dumouriez have never been clarified. When Dumouriez went over to the Austrians in March 1793, the Girondins, the moderate party, accused Danton of complicity with the general. Boldly turning the tables, Danton made the same accusation against the Girondins. In April-July he was one of the nine original members of the Committee of Public Safety. He attempted to mediate between rival parties in the Convention, but failed, and the Girondins were expelled in June. In July-August he was president of the Convention. He reappeared from time to time as the tribune of the people, eloquently voicing the demands of the masses, yet at the same time he tried to set bounds to the movement and keep it under control. He came to be looked upon as the leader of the moderate opposition. Losing power to Maximilien Robespierre in the Reign of Terror, Danton retired from active politics, but in March 1794 he and his followers were arrested for conspiracy against the republic. His audacious defense led the Revolutionary Tribunal to concoct a decree to deprive accused persons who had "insulted justice" from further pleading, and he was pronounced guilty and guillotined. He was rehabilitated under the Second Empire and enshrined as a hero under the Third Republic.
Danuatmodjo, Winarno (d. Feb. 24, 1971, Yogyakarta, Indonesia), governor of Sumatera Selatan (1952-57).
Danylyuk, Oleksandr (Oleksandrovych) (b. July 22, 1975, Grigoriopol, Moldavian S.S.R. [now in Transnistria, Moldova]), finance minister of Ukraine (2016-18). He was also secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (2019).
Dao Thien Thi (b. 1918), finance minister of (North) Vietnam (1974-77). He was also minister of labour (1981-87).
Daou, Oumar (b. May 13, 1955), Malian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2008-13) and ambassador to Rwanda (2017-22).
Daoud, Ali Mohamed, byname Jean Marie (b. Aug. 28, 1950, Djibouti, French Somaliland [now Djibouti]), Djiboutian politician. He was minister of public health and social affairs (1995-99) and agriculture, animal husbandry, and the sea (1999-2001).
Daoud, Muhammad (b. 1913 - d. Jan. 19, 1972, Amman, Jordan), prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan (1970).
Daouda, Idrissou (L.), economy and finance minister of Benin (2009-11).
Daoudou, Sadou (b. 1926, Ngaoundéré, French Cameroons [now in Cameroon] - d. Nov. 21, 2002, Ngaoundéré), Cameroonian politician. He was minister of armed forces (1961-80) and civil service (1980-82).
Daouk, Ahmed (Bey), Arabic Ahmad al-Da`uq (b. 1892, Beirut - d. 19...), prime minister of Lebanon (1941-42, 1960). He was also ambassador to France (1944-58).
Dapkiunas, Andrei (Vadzimavich) (b. April 11, 1963, Minsk, Belorussian S.S.R.), Belarusian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2004-11, 2012-17). In 2020 he was appointed ambassador to Austria and Slovenia.
Dar |
Dar, (Mohammad) Ishaq (b. May 13, 1950, Lahore, Pakistan), finance minister (1998-99, 2008, 2013-17, 2022-23) and foreign minister (2024- ) of Pakistan. He was also minister of commerce (1997-99) and economic affairs (1998-99, 2008, 2013-17).
Darabos, Norbert (b. May 31, 1964, Vienna, Austria), defense minister of Austria (2007-13).
Daragan, Mikhail (Petrovich) (b. Sept. 14 [Sept. 2, O.S.], 1834, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. af. 1917), governor of Chernigov (1876-78), Vologda (1878-79), and Kalisz (1883-1902); son of Pyotr Daragan.
Daragan, Pyotr (Mikhailovich) (b. 1800 - d. Jan. 3, 1876 [Dec. 22, 1875, O.S.], Vilna, Russia [now Vilnius, Lithuania]), governor of Tula (1850-65).
Darányi (de Pusztaszentgyörgy et Tetétlen), Kálmán (b. March 22, 1886, Budapest, Hungary - d. Nov. 1, 1939, Budapest), prime minister of Hungary (1936-38). He was also agriculture minister (1935-38), acting interior minister (1937), and president of the House of Representatives (1938-39).
Darbellay |
Darbellay, Christophe (b. March 7, 1971, Martigny, Valais, Switzerland), president of the Council of State of Valais (2020-21, 2023-24). He was also president of the Christian Democratic People's Party (2006-16).
Darbinyan |
Darbinyan, Armen (Razmiki) (b. Jan. 23, 1965, Leninakan, Armenian S.S.R. [now Gyumri, Armenia]), prime minister of Armenia (1998-99). He was a deputy chairman of the Central Bank from 1994 to May 1997, when he was appointed to head the finance and economy ministry. He became prime minister when Robert Kocharyan became president in 1998. He was known as a staunch supporter of continuing radical economic reforms and speeding up privatization in the impoverished Caucasus country. In 1999-2000 he was again economy minister.
Darbo, Bakary (Bunja) (b. Aug. 10, 1946, Dumbutto, Gambia), vice president (1982-92) and finance minister (1992-94) of The Gambia. He was also ambassador to Senegal (1979-81) and minister of information and tourism (1981-82) and education, youth, and sports (1987-92).
Darboe |
Darboe, (Abubakarr N.M.) Ousainou (b. Aug. 8, 1948, Dobo, Gambia), foreign minister (2017-18) and vice president (2018-19) of The Gambia. He was also a presidential candidate (1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2021).
Darchiashvili |
Darchiashvili, Ilia (b. Feb. 21, 1981, Sighnaghi, Georgian S.S.R.), foreign minister of Georgia (2022- ). He was also ambassador to Poland (2017-21) and head of government administration (2021-22).
Darden, Colgate W(hitehead), Jr. (b. Feb. 11, 1897, near Franklin, Va. - d. June 9, 1981, Norfolk, Va.), governor of Virginia (1942-46).
Dare, Albert Oliver (b. Sept. 23, 1917, Thames, N.Z. - d. July 14, 1982), resident commissioner of Niue (1956-58) and resident commissioner (1961-65) and high commissioner (1965) of the Cook Islands.
Darham, Sjachriel (b. April 3, 1945, Amuntai, Netherlands East Indies [now in Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia] - d. May 7, 2014, Banjarmasin, Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia), governor of Kalimantan Selatan (2000-05).
Dari, Luigi (b. Dec. 11, 1852, Nereto degli Abruzzi, Two Sicilies [now in Abruzzo, Italy] - d. April 15, 1919, Spello, Umbria, Italy), justice minister of Italy (1914). He was also mayor of Ancona (1890-91, 1899-1902, 1903, 1904) and minister of public works (1917-19).
Darida, Clelio (b. May 3, 1927, Rome, Italy - d. May 11, 2017, Rome), justice minister of Italy (1981-83). He was also mayor of Rome (1969-76), minister without portfolio (relations with parliament 1980, civil service 1980-81), and minister of posts and telecommunications (1980) and state holdings (1983-87).
Dariye, Joshua (Chibi) (b. July 27, 1957, Horop, Mushere [now in Bokkos local government area, Plateau state], Nigeria), governor of Plateau (1999-2006, 2007).
Darkin, Sergey (Mikhailovich) (b. Dec. 9, 1963, Bolshoy Kamen, Primorsky kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Primorsky kray (2001-12).
Darlan, (Jean Louis Xavier) François (b. Aug. 7, 1881, Nérac, France - d. [assassinated] Dec. 24, 1942, Algiers, Algeria), French marine minister (1940-42), interior minister (1941), defense minister (1941-42), and deputy prime minister and foreign minister (1941-42).
Darlan, Jean-Baptiste (b. June 10, 1848, Podensac, Gironde, France - d. Dec. 8, 1912, Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne, France), justice (and worship) minister of France (1896-97).
Darley, Sir Frederick Matthew (b. Sept. 18, 1830, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland - d. Jan. 4, 1910, London, England), acting governor of New South Wales (1893, 1895, 1899, 1901-02); knighted 1887. He was chief justice (1886-1910) and lieutenant-governor (1891-1910).
Darling, Sir Charles Henry (b. Feb. 19, 1809, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia - d. Jan. 25, 1870, Cheltenham, England), governor of Barbados (1841), lieutenant governor of Saint Lucia (1848-52), acting governor of Cape Colony (1854), and governor of Newfoundland (1855-57), Jamaica (1857-62), and Victoria (1863-66); knighted 1862; son of Henry Charles Darling.
Clifford Darling |
Darling, Sir Clifford (b. Feb. 6, 1922, Acklins island, Bahamas - d. Dec. 27, 2011, Nassau, The Bahamas), governor-general of The Bahamas (1992-95); knighted 1977. He was speaker of the House of Assembly in 1977-91.
Darling, Henry Charles (b. Feb. 28, 1780, Uppingham, Rutland county, England - d. Feb. 11, 1845), governor of Tobago (1833-45); brother of Sir Ralph Darling; son-in-law of Charles Cameron.
Darling, Jay N(orwood), byname Ding Darling (b. Oct. 21, 1876, Norwood, Mich. - d. Feb. 12, 1962, Des Moines, Iowa), chief of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey (1934-35). He was also known as a political cartoonist.
R. Darling | Darmanovic |
Darling, Sir Ralph (b. January or February 1772 [other sources say 1775], Ireland - d. April 2, 1858, Brighton, England), acting governor of Mauritius (1819-20) and governor of New South Wales (1825-31); knighted 1835.
Darling of Roulanish, Alistair (Maclean) Darling, Baron (b. Nov. 28, 1953, London, England - d. Nov. 30, 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland), British chancellor of the exchequer (2007-10). He was also chief secretary to the Treasury (1997-98) and secretary of social security (1998-2001), work and pensions (2001-02), transport (2002-06), Scotland (2003-06), and trade and industry (2006-07). He was made a life peer in 2015.
Darmanin, Gérald (b. Oct. 11, 1982, Valenciennes, Nord, France), interior minister of France (2020-24). He was also minister of action and public accounts (2017-20) and overseas (2022-24).
Darmanovic, Srdjan (b. July 18, 1961, Cetinje, Montenegro), foreign minister of Montenegro (2016-20). He was also ambassador to the United States (2010-16).
Darminto, Fahrizal (b. Oct. 21, 1964, Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia), acting governor of Lampung (2024).
Daroussin, Joël (b. Dec. 16, 1870, Fons-sur-Lussan, Gard, France - d. Dec. 17, 1951, Paris, France), acting resident-superior of Laos (1921-23).
Darowski, Ludwik (b. Aug. 11, 1881, Opatów, Poland - d. Nov. 15, 1948, Warsaw, Poland), governor of Lódzkie (1924-26) and Krakowskie (1926-28) województwa. He was also Polish minister of labour and social protection (1921-23, 1923-24, 1924) and minister to the Soviet Union (1924).
Darricau, Rodolphe Augustin, baron (b. March 17, 1807, Saint-Denis, Seine [now in Seine-Saint-Denis], France - d. July 19, 1877, Paris, France), governor of Réunion (1858-64).
Darroux |
Darroux, Kenneth (Melchoir), foreign minister of Dominica (2019-22). He was also minister of environment, natural resources, physical planning, and fisheries (2010-14), health and environment (2014-18), and health and social services (2018-19).
Darsières, Camille (b. May 19, 1932, Fort-de-France, Martinique - d. Dec. 14, 2006, Fort-de-France), president of the Regional Council of Martinique (1988-92).
Darsigov, Magomed-Bashir (Zyaudinovich) (b. Sept. 9, 1951), prime minister of Ingushetia (1998-99).
Dartiguenave | Dartout |
Dartiguenave, Philippe Sudre (b. June 4, 1863, Anse-à-Veau, Haiti - d. Aug. 7, 1926, Anse-à-Veau), president of Haiti (1915-22). He was also president of the Senate (1912-15).
Dartmouth, William Legge, (1st) Earl of, (1st) Viscount Lewisham (b. Oct. 14, 1672 - d. Dec. 15, 1750, London, England), British secretary of state for the Southern Department (1710-13) and lord privy seal (1713-14). He succeeded as (2nd) Baron Dartmouth in 1691 and was created viscount and earl in 1711.
Dartmouth, William Legge, (2nd) Earl of (b. June 20, 1731, Marylebone, Middlesex [now part of London], England - d. July 15, 1801, London), British politician; grandson of William Legge, (1st) Earl of Dartmouth. He was first lord of trade (1765-66, 1772-75), secretary of state for the colonies (1772-75), and lord privy seal (1775-82). He succeeded as earl in 1750.
Dartout, Pierre (François Gabriel) (b. April 9, 1954, Limoges, France), prefect of French Guiana (1995-97) and minister of state of Monaco (2020-24). He was also prefect of the départements of Pyrénées-Orientales (1998-2000), Drôme (2000-02), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (2002-04), Var (2004-07), Val-de-Marne (2010-13), Marne (2013-15), Gironde (2015-17), and Bouches-du-Rhône (2017-20).
Daruvar, Yves de, original name Imre Kacskovics de Daruvár (b. March 31, 1921, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. May 28, 2018, Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine, France), high commissioner of the Comoros (1962-63). Of Hungarian origin, he moved with his family to France in the late 1920s. He was the last survivor of the 2nd Division that liberated Paris in 1944.
Daruváry (de Daruvár), Géza (b. Jan. 12, 1866, Pest [now part of Budapest], Hungary - d. Aug. 3, 1934, Budapest), foreign minister of Hungary (1922-24). He was also justice minister (1922-23).
Das, B(rijbir) S(aran) (b. Dec. 16, 1925 - d. Oct. 14, 2016), chief administrative officer of Sikkim (1973-74).
Das, Banarsi (b. July 8, 1912, Atrawali village, United Provinces [now in Uttar Pradesh], India - d. Aug. 3, 1983), chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (1979-80).
Das, Biswanath (b. March 8, 1889, Polasara village, Ganjam district, Orissa [now Odisha], India - d. June 2, 1984), chief minister of Orissa (1937-39, 1971-72) and governor of Uttar Pradesh (1962-67).
Raghubar Das |
Das, Raghubar (b. May 3, 1955, Boirdih village, Rajnandgaon district, Madhya Pradesh [now in Chhattisgarh], India), chief minister of Jharkhand (2014-19) and governor of Odisha (2023- ).
Das, Ram Sundar (b. July 7, 1923 [or Jan. 9, 1921], Gangajal, Bihar, India - d. March 6, 2015, Patna, Bihar), chief minister of Bihar (1979-80).
Das, S(anti) J(ibon) (b. Nov. 1, 1914), chief commissioner of Mizoram (1972).
Das Neves, Mario (b. April 27, 1951, Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. Oct. 31, 2017, Rawson, Chubut, Argentina), governor of Chubut (2003-11, 2015-17).
Dascalescu |
Dascalescu, Constantin (b. July 2, 1923, Breaza, Romania - d. May 15, 2003, Bucharest, Romania), prime minister of Romania (1982-89). He was ousted from office during a popular revolt in 1989 along with Pres. Nicolae Ceausescu. In the dying moments of the regime, he was sent by Ceausescu to Timisoara, the city in western Romania where the revolt began, to try to crush it. Dascalescu at first refused to talk to the demonstrators, declaring, "I won't speak to hooligans," but later changed his mind and met with representatives of the crowd. About 150 people who had been detained by the secret police were released on his orders during the negotiations, but Dascalescu failed in his attempts to stop the revolt. He was arrested after the revolt and tried on genocide charges, along with other Ceausescu aides, for allegedly contributing to hundreds of deaths during the anti-Communist revolt. The charges were later lowered to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1991, but was later released on medical grounds.
Daschle |
Daschle, Tom, byname of Thomas Andrew Daschle (b. Dec. 9, 1947, Aberdeen, S.D.), U.S. politician. He was a congressional aide to U.S. Sen. James Abourezk (1972-77) and in 1978 he won the first of four terms in the House of Representatives. In 1986 he defeated the incumbent to win election to the Senate, and he was reelected overwhelmingly in 1992 and 1998. He became a member of the powerful Finance Committee while still a freshman senator and in 1988 was appointed cochair of the Democratic Policy Committee. Other legislative interests of Daschle included agriculture and veterans' and Indian affairs. He gained a reputation for looking out for the interests of his constituents, and every year he drove himself throughout South Dakota to visit each of its 66 counties and to talk to voters. In 1994 he won the position of Democratic leader by one vote, and he became minority leader in the Senate at the beginning of the 1995 session. A soft-spoken man, he had a reputation for being fair and inclusive, but he was a skillful tactician and could be tough when needed. On June 6, 2001, the Senate passed to Democratic control when Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party to become an independent, which gave the Democrats a 50-49 majority. As Daschle became majority leader, he declared that parts of Pres. George W. Bush's legislative program, including drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and quick deployment of a missile defense system, would not pass the Senate. A patients' bill of rights cleared the Senate despite the president's threat to veto it, and Daschle took the lead in blaming the Bush tax cut for the disappearance of the budget surplus. The Senate passed to Republican control after the 2002 elections, and he became minority leader again. In 2004 he was defeated for reelection by Republican John Thune. In 2008 he was nominated for secretary of health and human services, but ultimately withdrew, faced with problems over back taxes and potential conflicts of interest.
D'Ascoli (Sotillo), Carlos Alberto (b. Aug. 18, 1899, Caracas, Venezuela - d. Dec. 7, 1985, Caracas), finance minister of Venezuela (1945-47).
Dash, Mangaljavyn (b. 1925), Mongolian politician. He was minister of agriculture (1968-76, 1980-81) and ambassador to Poland (1976-78) and Afghanistan (1978-80).
Dashkov, Andrey (Vasilyevich) (b. July 12 [July 1, O.S.], 1790 - d. March 27 [March 15, O.S.], 1865), governor of Olonets (1836-39); brother of Dmitry Dashkov.
Dashkov, Dmitry (Vasilyevich) (b. Jan. 5, 1789 [Dec. 25, 1788, O.S.], Moscow, Russia - d. Dec. 8 [Nov. 26, O.S.], 1839, St. Petersburg, Russia), justice minister of Russia (1829-39).
Dashtseren, Buyantyn (b. Dec. 30, 1928, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia), Mongolian diplomat. He was ambassador to India (1973-78) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1978-82).
Dashuk, Leonid (Andreyevich) (b. June 22, 1936), justice minister of Belarus (1990-94).
Daskalov, Rayko (Ivanov) (b. Dec. 21 [Dec. 9, O.S.], 1886, Byala Cherkva, Bulgaria - d. [assassinated] Aug. 26, 1923, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), leader of the rebel "Radomir Republic" (1918) and finance minister (1920) and interior minister (1922-23) of Bulgaria. He was also minister of agriculture (1919-20) and commerce, industry, and labour (1920-22).
S. Daskalov |
Daskalov, Stanislav (Penkov) (b. April 4, 1952, Bezhanovo, Bulgaria), foreign minister of Bulgaria (1993-94). He was also ambassador (2001-07) and permanent representative (2007) to the European Union.
Daskalova, Svetla (Raykova) (b. Nov. 21, 1921, Sofia, Bulgaria - d. July/August 2008), justice minister of Bulgaria (1966-90); daughter of Rayko Daskalov.
Dass, Damodar (b. Jan. 29, 1914), chief commissioner of Chandigarh (1968-69).
Dassanayake, T(udor) K(arunatilleke) (d. January 2006), governor of Central province, Sri Lanka (2000-01).
Dassi, Didier (b. May 23, 1946), justice minister (1984-87) and finance minister (1988-90) of Benin. He was also prefect of Mono département (1987-88).
Dassi, Sébastien (b. Jan. 20, 1905, Cotonou, Dahomey [now Benin] - d. 1975), interior minister of Dahomey (1957-59). He was also minister of agriculture (1959-62) and president of the Supreme Court (1962-63).
Dasso (Hoke), Andrés F(rancisco) (b. June 16, 1893, Lima, Peru - d. May 27, 1961, Lima), finance minister of Peru (1950-52); brother of David Dasso. He was also mayor of Lima (1926-29) and president of the Central Reserve Bank (1952-58).
Dasso (Hoke), David (Victorio) (b. Feb. 25, 1891, Lima, Peru - d. May 18, 1952, Lima), finance minister of Peru (1940-42).
Dassonville | Dastis |
Dassonville, Yves (Charles Léo) (b. April 9, 1948, Paris, France - d. June 15, 2021), acting prefect of Réunion (1995, 1998), prefect of Martinique (2004-07), and high commissioner of New Caledonia (2007-10). He was also prefect of the départements of Jura (2002-04), Haute-Vienne (2010-11), and Vienne (2011-13).
Dastis (Quecedo), Alfonso (María) (b. Oct. 5, 1955, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain), foreign minister of Spain (2016-18). He has also been ambassador to the Netherlands (2004-07) and Italy (2018- ).
Dasuki dan Khaliru, Ibrahim (b. Dec. 31, 1923, Dogondaji village, Sokoto state, Nigeria - d. Nov. 14, 2016, Abuja, Nigeria), sultan of Sokoto (1988-96).
Daszynski |
Daszynski, Ignacy (Ewaryst) (b. Oct. 26, 1866, Zbaraz, Galicia, Poland, Russian Empire [now Zbarazh, Ukraine] - d. Oct. 31, 1936, Bystra, near Cieszyn, Poland), Polish politician. In October 1892 he was one of the organizers of the Polish Social Democratic Party in Galicia. He was elected to the Austrian Reichsrat in 1897 and was a member of it until 1918. From 1903 he took part in many congresses of the Socialist International, always insisting on the independence and reunification of all Polish lands as an integral part of the Polish socialist program. From 1912 he collaborated to this end with Józef Pilsudski, whom he then admired. Also in 1912 he became editor in chief of the Polish socialist daily newspaper Naprzód ("Forward") in Kraków. During World War I he was one of the founders of the Polish National Committee, and for some days he was the head of the first provisional government of restored Poland, formed at Lublin on Nov. 7, 1918. Elected on Jan. 26, 1919, to the Sejm (Diet), he was reelected in 1922, 1928, and 1930. From July 1920 to January 1921 he was deputy premier in the government of national unity presided over by Wincenty Witos. After the coup of May 1926, Daszynski definitely severed his relations with Pilsudski, and as speaker of the Sejm (1928-30), he refused to allow parliament to open when Pilsudski, with an armed escort, entered the chamber. Daszynski ended his parliamentary life when Pilsudski in 1930 broke up the attempt to form a popular front.
Datcu, Ion (b. Feb. 20, 1930 - d. January 2013), Romanian diplomat. He was ambassador to Japan (1966-69), Australia (1967-69), and Switzerland (1982-85) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1972-78).
Date, Chuichi (b. Jan. 20, 1939, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan), Japanese politician. He was president of the House of Councillors (2016-19).
Dati, Rachida (b. Nov. 27, 1965, Saint-Rémy, Saône-et-Loire, France), justice minister of France (2007-09). She has also been culture minister (2024- ).
Dato e Iradier, Eduardo (b. Aug. 12, 1856, La Coruña, Spain - d. [assassinated] March 8, 1921, Madrid, Spain), prime minister of Spain (1913-15, 1917, 1920-21). He was also minister of interior (1899-1900), justice (1902-03, 1914-15), foreign affairs (1918), and navy (1920-21), mayor of Madrid (1907), and president of the Congress of Deputies (1907-10).
Datt, Krishna (b. Oct. 15, 1944, Mateniwai, Labasa, Fiji), foreign minister of Fiji (1987). He was also minister of labour and industrial relations (2006).
Datta, Shyamal (b. May 10, 1941), governor of Nagaland (2002-07). He was also director of the Intelligence Bureau of India (1998-2001).
Dattatreya | Daubigny |
Dattatreya, Bandaru (b. Feb. 26, 1947, Hyderabad, India), governor of Himachal Pradesh (2019-21) and Haryana (2021- ). He was also Indian minister of state (independent charge) for labour and employment (2014-17).
Datumanong, Simeon (Ampatuan) (b. June 17, 1935, Maganoy [now Shariff Aguak], Maguindanao, Philippines - d. Feb. 28, 2017, Quezon City, Philippines), justice secretary of the Philippines (2003). He was also governor of Cotabato (1968-71) and Maguindanao (1973-75) and secretary of public works and highways (2001-03).
Daubigny, Jean (b. May 18, 1948, Troyes, Aube, France - d. July 2, 2024), prefect of Réunion (1998-2001) and of Paris (2013-15). He was also prefect of the départements of Vaucluse (1991-93), Loire (1993-96), Marne (2001-03), Haute-Garonne (2003-06), Ille-et-Vilaine (2006-09), and Loire-Atlantique (2009-12).
Däubler-Gmelin, Herta, née Gmelin (b. Aug. 12, 1943, Bratislava, Slovakia), justice minister of Germany (1998-2002).
D'Aubuisson |
D'Aubuisson (Arrieta), Roberto (b. Aug. 23, 1943, Santa Tecla, El Salvador - d. Feb. 20, 1992, San Salvador, El Salvador), Salvadoran political leader. He served as an intelligence officer with the National Guard and then as deputy director of Ansesal, the presidential security agency. When reformists in the military overthrew Pres. Carlos Humberto Romero in October 1979, he was given backing by the coffee oligarchs, who resisted demands for land redistribution and political reforms, to organize new political parties. D'Aubuisson, who was described by a former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador as a "pathological killer," was implicated in the May 1980 abortive coup to unseat Col. Adolfo Arnoldo Majano Ramos. He wished to reverse all reforms carried out by José Napoleón Duarte's regime and denounced peace talks with leftist rebels. In March 1981, following allegations that he had been involved in the murder of Archbishop Óscar Romero a year earlier, he took refuge in Guatemala, returning in late 1981 to form the extreme right-wing Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA). He failed to fulfill his hopes of becoming president after the March 1982 elections but did secure the powerful position of president of the Constituent Assembly (1982-83). In 1984 he lost the presidential election to Duarte. D'Aubuisson was widely characterized as the brains behind the Union of White Warriors, which allegedly conducted assassinations by "death squad" during the 1979-92 civil war, which claimed some 75,000 lives. In 1989 ARENA's candidate, Alfredo Cristiani, became president. D'Aubuisson tried to uphold the party hard line amid Cristiani's attempts to negotiate an end to the civil war. Just five weeks before D'Aubuisson's death, a formal ceasefire was signed.
Daud |
Daud Khan, Sardar Mohammad (b. July 18, 1909, Kabul, Afghanistan - d. April 27, 1978, Kabul), president of Afghanistan (1973-78); son of Sardar Mohammad Aziz Khan; cousin of Mohammad Zahir Shah. King Nadir Shah made him a major general in 1932; he subsequently served as military commander of several provinces and in 1939-47 of the central forces at Kabul. In 1946 Prime Minister Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan (his uncle) named him minister of defense. After a disagreement with Shah Mahmud, he was sent to Paris as ambassador in 1948. He returned a year later to serve as minister of the interior and head of tribal affairs. In the latter position he exacerbated the dispute between Afghanistan and the new state of Pakistan, vigorously promoting demands for self-determination in the Pashtun tribal territories of Pakistan. In 1953 he seized power from his uncle in a bloodless coup. During his tenure as prime minister (known as "Daud's decade") he modernized the Afghan state. He maintained a policy of nonalignment, playing off the United States and the Soviet Union against each other. Daud remained a Pashtun nationalist. In 1963 confrontation with Pakistan, which controlled the principal land route from Afghanistan to the sea, led to an economic crisis that forced him to resign. He was the main target of a 1964 constitutional provision in which members of the royal family were forbidden to stand for election or to serve as ministers. With the help of Soviet-trained army officers, he seized power on July 17, 1973. He proclaimed a republic and himself president. When he turned away from the U.S.S.R. in 1977, the latter increased its support for the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). In 1978, PDPA cells in the army launched a coup, during which Daud was killed.
Dauda |
Dauda, Joseph B(andabla) (b. Dec. 24, 1942, Bambawo, Eastern province, Sierra Leone - d. June 1, 2017, Accra, Ghana), finance minister (2002-05), foreign minister (2010-12), and internal affairs minister (2013-16) of Sierra Leone. He was also minister of trade (1988-91), second vice president, attorney general, and minister of justice (1991-92), and minister of rural development and local government (1999-2002).
Daudov |
Daudov, Magomed (Khozhakhmedovich) (b. Feb. 26, 1980, Shpakovskoye, Stavropol kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), prime minister of Chechnya (2024- ). He was also chairman of parliament (2015-24).
Daudpota, (Mohammad) Azim (b. Sept. 14, 1933, Bombay [now Mumbai], India - d. April 3, 2017), governor of Sindh (1999-2000). He was also commander of the air force of Zimbabwe (1983-86).
Daugaard, Dennis (Martin) (b. June 11, 1953, Garretson, S.D.), governor of South Dakota (2011-19).
Daugherty, Harry M(icajah) (b. Jan. 26, 1860, Washington Court House, Ohio - d. Oct. 12, 1941, Columbus, Ohio), U.S. attorney general (1921-24).
Daukantas, Teodoras (b. Sept. 20 [Sept. 8, O.S.], 1884, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. April 10, 1960, Buenos Aires, Argentina), defense minister of Lithuania (1924-25, 1927-28). He was also armed forces chief of staff (1926-27) and chargé d'affaires in Argentina and Brazil (1931-34).
Daukeyev, Serikbek (Zhusupbekovich) (b. Feb. 17, 1950, Semipalatinsk, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Atyrau oblast (2000-02). He was also Kazakh minister of geology (1993-97), ecology and natural resources (1997-99), and natural resources and environmental protection (1999-2000) and president of the Academy of Sciences (2002-03).
Daulatram, Jairamdas (b. July 21, 1891, Hyderabad, Sind, India [now in Pakistan] - d. March 1, 1979, New Delhi, India), governor of Bihar (1947-48) and Assam (1950-56). He was also Indian minister of food and agriculture (1948-50).
Daulenov, Salken (Daulenovich) (b. Oct. 10 [Sept. 27, O.S.], 1907, Alty-Karasu, Russia [now in Aktobe oblast, Kazakhstan] - d. Feb. 29, 1984, Alma-Ata, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Almaty, Kazakhstan]), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1961-62). He was also chairman of the Supreme Soviet (1938-39), chairman of the Executive Committee of Yuzhno-Kazakhstan oblast (1945-51), minister of water (1954-57), and first secretary of the party committee of Semipalatinsk oblast (1960-61).
Daultana |
Daultana, Mian Mumtaz (Mohammad Khan) (b. Feb. 23, 1916 - d. June 30, 1995), chief minister of Punjab (1951-53) and defense minister of Pakistan (1957). He was also ambassador to the United Kingdom (1972-78).
Daun, Domingos de Saldanha Oliveira e (b. Sept. 3, 1800, Lisbon, Portugal - d. Aug. 21, 1836, Angola), governor of Angola (1836); brother of João Carlos Gregório Domingues Vicente Francisco de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun, duque, marquês e conde de Saldanha; grandson of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Mello, marquês de Pombal.
Daunivalu, Luke (b. April 26, 1974, Nausori, Fiji), Fijian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (2016-18) and high commissioner to Australia (2018-22).
Daunt |
Daunt, Sir Timothy (Lewis Achilles) (b. Oct. 11, 1935, Brecon, Powys, Wales - d. Aug. 5, 2023, London, England), lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man (1995-2000); knighted 1989. He was also British ambassador to Turkey (1986-92).
Dauphin, (Henri) Albert (b. Aug. 26, 1827, Amiens, Somme, France - d. Nov. 14, 1898, Amiens), finance minister of France (1886-87). He was also mayor of Amiens (1868-73) and prefect of Somme département (1871).
Dauplay, Jean-Jacques (b. April 8, 1878, Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-du-Nord [now Côtes-d'Armor], France - d. 19...), interim resident-superior of Laos (1925-26).
Dauriac, Alexandre François (b. Feb. 22, 1812, Brindisi, Italy - d. 1878), commandant of the Naval Division of the Western Coasts of Africa (1868-69).
Dausab, Yvonne (b. Nov. 6, 1974), justice minister of Namibia (2020- ).
Dausabea, Charles (b. Aug. 21, 1960 - d. Oct. 14?, 2019), Solomon Islands politician. He was minister of police and national security (2006) and public service (2007).
Dausi, Nicholas, Malawian politician. He has been director-general of the National Intelligence Bureau (2014-16) and minister of information and communications technology (2016-18) and homeland security (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020- ).
Dauth, John Cecil (b. April 9, 1947, Brisbane, Qld.), Australian diplomat. He was high commissioner to Malaysia (1993-96), New Zealand (2006-08), and the United Kingdom (2008-12) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-06).
D'Auvergne, Corbet James (b. 1765?, Jersey? - d. Feb. 2, 1825, Le Havre, France), lieutenant governor of Heligoland (1807-08).
Davaasambuu, Dalrayn (b. Aug. 6, 1952, Santmargats soum, Zavkhan province, Mongolia), finance minister of Mongolia (1992-95). He was also ambassador to the United Kingdom (2001-08).
A. Dave |
Dave, Arvind (b. May 1, 1940), governor of Arunachal Pradesh (1999-2003), Assam (2003), and Manipur (2003-04). In 1997-99 he was secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Dave, Prasannabhai Karunashankar (b. Jan. 1, 1923 - d. Sept. 18/19, 2006, New Delhi, India), lieutenant governor of Delhi (1992-97). He was also Indian ambassador to Belgium (1977-81).
Davey, Martin L(uther) (b. July 25, 1884, Kent, Ohio - d. March 31, 1946, Kent), governor of Ohio (1935-39).
David, Adelino (Santiago) Castelo (b. 1955?), finance minister of São Tomé and Príncipe (1999-2001, 2004-05). He is a former central bank governor (1992-94) and former president of the bank Caixa Nacional de Poupanças e Crédito. Before his first appointment as finance minister, he was a World Bank consultant, representing the São Tomé government.
David, Christian Georg Nathan, originally (until 1830) David Nathan David (b. Jan. 16, 1793, Copenhagen, Denmark - d. June 18, 1874, Copenhagen), finance minister of Denmark (1864-65).
David, Cristian, surname until 2001 Troaca (b. Dec. 26, 1967, Bucharest, Romania), interior minister of Romania (2007-08).
David, Sir Edgeworth (Beresford) (b. June 12, 1908 - d. May 15, 1965), acting governor of Hong Kong (1957-58); knighted 1961. He was colonial secretary (1955-59).
David, Eduard (Heinrich Rudolph) (b. June 11, 1863, Ediger an der Mosel, Prussia - d. Dec. 24, 1930, Berlin), president of the Constituent National Assembly (1919) and interior minister (1919) of Germany.
Dávid, Ibolya (Márta) (b. Aug. 12, 1954, Baja, Hungary), justice minister of Hungary (1998-2002).
David, Johnny P. (b. Aug. 21, 1937, Kitti, Ponape [now Pohnpei], Micronesia [now in Federated States of Micronesia]), governor of Pohnpei (1992-96, 2000-08).
David, Josef (b. Feb. 17, 1884, Kylesovice, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. April 21, 1968, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1945). He was also chairman of the Provisional National Assembly (1945-46) and Constituent National Assembly (1946-48).
David, Joseph Jean (b. Nov. 28, 1902, Paris, France - d. Oct. 8, 1969, Yerres, Essonne, France), resident of Wallis and Futuna (1933-38).
P. David |
David, Peter (Charles) (b. July 26, 1957), foreign minister of Grenada (2008-10, 2018-20). He was also minister of tourism (2010-12), labour (2018-22), and agriculture, forestry, and lands (2020-22).
David, Václav (b. Sept. 23, 1910, Studená, Moravia [now in Czech Republic] - d. Jan. 5, 1996), foreign minister of Czechoslovakia (1953-68). He was also ambassador to Bulgaria (1969-71).
Davide, Hilario, Jr., or Hilario Gelbolingo Davide (b. Dec. 20, 1935, Colawin barangay, Argao, Cebu, Philippines), Philippine official. He was chairman of the Commission of Elections (1988-90), chief justice of the Supreme Court (1998-2005), and permanent representative to the United Nations (2007-10).
Davide, Hilario, III, or Hilario Perez Davide, byname Junjun Davide (b. Aug. 25, 1964, Cebu City, Philippines), Philippine politician; son of Hilario Davide, Jr. He was governor of Cebu (2013-19).
J.A. Davidson |
Davidson, James Alfred (b. March 22, 1922 - d. May 6, 2004), British high commissioner of Brunei (1975-78) and governor of the British Virgin Islands (1978-81). He was a naval commander during World War II and also held diplomatic positions in Trinidad and Tobago, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.
Davidson, James O(le) (b. Feb. 10, 1854, near Årdal, Nordre Bergenhus amt [now in Vestland fylke], Norway - d. Dec. 16, 1922, Madison, Wis.), governor of Wisconsin (1906-11).
Davidson, Jeff(erson Godwyn) (b. April 15, 1928, Roxborough, Tobago - d. June 10, 2023, Mt. Grace, Tobago), chairman of the House of Assembly of Tobago (1986-89).
Davidson, Sir Walter Edward (b. April 20, 1859, Valletta, Malta - d. Sept. 16, 1923, Sydney, N.S.W.), governor of the Seychelles (1904-12), Newfoundland (1913-17), and New South Wales (1918-23); knighted 1914.
Davidson-Houston, Wilfred Bennett (b. Jan. 3, 1870 - d. Sept. 18, 1960, Esher, Surrey, England), commissioner of Montserrat (1906-18), administrator of Saint Lucia (1918-27), acting administrator of Dominica (1923-24), and acting governor of Nyasaland (1929).
Davie, Theodore (b. March 22, 1852, Brixton, England - d. March 7, 1898, Victoria, B.C.), premier of British Columbia (1892-95). Brother of Premier Alexander Edmund Batson Davie, Theodore followed his sibling into provincial politics in 1882. After his brother was elected premier in 1887, Davie served as de-facto attorney general, and as his brother grew increasingly ill he effectively ran the province from behind the scenes. When his brother died in office in 1889, Davie was officially appointed attorney general by the new premier, John Robson. When Robson also died in office, Davie was appointed premier and inherited a province plagued with the unfinished business of two incomplete administrations. His attempts to rejuvenate the failing B.C. economy were not helped when the province faced a massive flood in 1894. Though largely unpopular, Davie's term was not without some success. He drew up a dramatic redistribution of British Columbia's political ridings, and continued the B.C. expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. His government's most lasting achievement was construction of the present parliament buildings. In 1895 he resigned from politics and was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, a position he held until his death.
Davie, William R(ichardson) (b. June 22, 1756, Cumberland county, England - d. Nov. 5, 1820, Chester county, S.C.), governor of North Carolina (1798-99).
Davier, Irénée (b. Feb. 10, 1903, Saint-Étienne, France - d. March 13, 1971), governor of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (1952-55).
Davies, Sir Robert Henry (b. 1824 - d. Aug. 23, 1902), chief commissioner of Oudh (1865-66 [acting], 1867-71) and lieutenant governor of Punjab (1871-77); knighted 1874.
Davignon, Étienne, (vicomte/burggraaf), byname Stevy Davignon (b. Oct. 4, 1932, Budapest, Hungary), Belgian politician. He was European commissioner for industrial affairs (1977-85), the internal market and customs union (1977-81), and energy, Euratom Supply Agency, research and science (1981-85).
Davignon, (Henri François) Julien (Claude), (posthumously) vicomte/burggraaf (b. Dec. 3, 1854, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Belgium - d. March 12, 1916, Nice, France), foreign minister of Belgium (1907-16).
L.A. Dávila |
Dávila (García), Luis Alfonso (b. Dec. 6, 1943, Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela), interior minister (2000-01) and foreign minister (2001-02, 2002) of Venezuela.
Dávila (Cuéllar), Miguel R(afael) (b. Sept. 29, 1856, Tegucigalpa, Honduras - d. Oct. 12, 1927, Tegucigalpa), president of Honduras (1907-11). He was also minister of finance (1894-96) and justice (1903).
Dávila (Barrios), Williams (Daniel) (b. April 19, 1951, Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela), governor of Mérida (1984-86, 1995-2000).
Dávila Arrondo, Fidel, (from 1949) marqués de Dávila (b. April 24, 1878, Barcelona, Spain - d. March 22, 1962, Madrid, Spain), chairman of the Technical Junta (1936-37), defense minister (1938-39), and army minister (1945-51) of Spain.
Dávila Condemarín, José (b. 1799, Trujillo, Peru - d. 1882, Lima, Peru), foreign minister (1843 [acting], 1844 [acting], 1845, 1845) and interior and education minister (1847-49) of Peru. He was also rector of the University of San Marcos (1854-57) and minister to Sardinia (1858-60).
Dávila Espinoza, Carlos (Gregorio) (b. Sept. 15, 1887, Los Ángeles, Chile - d. Oct. 19, 1955, Washington, D.C.), provisional president of Chile (1932) and secretary-general of the Organization of American States (1954-55).
Davin, Jean (Aveno) (b. March 23, 1922, Libreville, Gabon - d. March 18, 1993, Nice, France), Gabonese diplomat/politician. He was ambassador to Belgium and the Vatican (1968-69) and Italy (1973-80), permanent representative to the United Nations (1969-73, 1980-83), and mayor of Libreville (1983-89).
Davinic, Prvoslav (b. July 20, 1938, Belgrade, Yugoslavia), defense minister of Serbia and Montenegro (2004-05). He resigned after being accused of approving purchases of military equipment at overblown prices.
Adrian Davis |
Davis, Adrian (Derek) (b. 1950, London, England), governor of Montserrat (2011-15).
Angela Davis |
Davis, Angela (Yvonne) (b. Jan. 26, 1944, Birmingham, Ala.), U.S. political activist. She became a doctoral candidate at the University of California, San Diego, under the Marxist professor Herbert Marcuse. Because of her political opinions and despite an excellent record as an instructor at the university's Los Angeles campus, the California Board of Regents in 1970 refused to renew her appointment as lecturer in philosophy. Championing the cause of black prisoners, she grew particularly attached to a young revolutionary, George Jackson, one of the so-called Soledad Brothers (after Soledad Prison). Jackson's brother Jonathan was among the four persons killed - including the trial judge - in an abortive escape and kidnapping attempt from the Hall of Justice in Marin county, Calif. (Aug. 7, 1970). Suspected of complicity, she was sought for arrest and became one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "most wanted criminals." Arrested in New York City in October 1970, she was returned to California to face charges of kidnapping, murder, and conspiracy. Held in solitary confinement for many months, she and her cause became the focus of a worldwide campaign. Sponsored mainly by the Communist Party of the United States, the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis was directed jointly by her sister Fania Davis Jordan and Franklin Alexander, chairman of the all-black Che-Lumumba Club of the Communist Party. "Free Angela" posters blanketed cities all over the world to the accompaniment of emotional protests, petitions, and rallies in her behalf. After a 13-week trial, on June 4, 1972, she was acquitted of all charges by an all-white jury. In 1980 she ran for U.S. vice president on the Communist Party ticket.
Davis, (John Chandler) Bancroft (b. Dec. 29, 1822, Worcester, Mass. - d. Dec. 27, 1907, Washington, D.C.), U.S. diplomat. He was minister to Germany (1874-77).
Davis, Cushman K(ellogg) (b. June 16, 1838, Henderson, N.Y. - d. Nov. 27, 1900, St. Paul, Minn.), governor of Minnesota (1874-76).
Davis, Daniel F(ranklin) (b. Sept. 12, 1843, Freedom, Maine - d. Jan. 9, 1897, Bangor, Maine), governor of Maine (1880-81).
D. Davis |
Davis, David (b. March 9, 1815, Cecil county, Md. - d. June 26, 1886, Bloomington, Ill.), U.S. politician. He was elected to the Illinois legislature in 1844 on the Whig ticket, was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1847, and the following year began a 14-year career as a circuit judge. He became a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, who practiced as a lawyer in the same circuit. At the Republican convention of 1860 and in the presidential campaign that followed, Davis worked assiduously for Lincoln's nomination and election. In February 1861 he accompanied the president-elect to Washington, D.C., and served as an adviser until Lincoln appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1862. Davis was never a supporter of the more extreme anti-slavery wing of the Republican Party, and he angered much of the party with his majority opinion in the Ex parte Milligan case of 1866. While still a justice, Davis in 1872 accepted the presidential nomination of the Labor Reform Convention as a stepping-stone to securing the nomination of the Liberal Republican Party. When the party instead nominated Horace Greeley, Davis withdrew as the Labor candidate. He then drifted closer to the Democrats, who expected him to cast the decisive vote for Samuel J. Tilden on the Electoral Commission of 1877. But Davis disqualified himself from the commission when he resigned from the Supreme Court in 1877 to accept election by the Illinois legislature to the U.S. Senate. When Pres. James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881, and Vice Pres. Chester A. Arthur became president, Davis was elected president pro tem of the Senate, which made him virtually acting vice president of the United States, and he held this position until the expiration of his term in 1883.
Davis, David W(illiam) (b. April 23, 1873, Cardiff, Wales - d. Aug. 5, 1959, Lincoln, Idaho), governor of Idaho (1919-23).
Davis, Deane C(handler) (b. Nov. 7, 1900, East Barre, Vt. - d. Dec. 8, 1990, Berlin, Vt.), governor of Vermont (1969-73).
Davis, Dwight F(illey) (b. July 5, 1879, St. Louis, Mo. - d. Nov. 28, 1945, Washington, D.C.), U.S. secretary of war (1925-29) and governor-general of the Philippines (1929-32). He was also a noted tennis player (founder of the Davis Cup).
Davis, Edmund J(ackson) (b. Oct. 2, 1827, St. Augustine, Fla. - d. Feb. 7, 1883, Austin, Texas), governor of Texas (1870-74).
E. Davis |
Davis, Edward (Grant Martin) (b. Feb. 13, 1963), governor of Gibraltar (2016-20).
G. Davis |
Davis, Gray, byname of Joseph Graham Davis, Jr. (b. Dec. 26, 1942, Bronx, New York City), governor of California (1999-2003). As chair of the California Council on Criminal Justice in the 1970s, he started the statewide Neighborhood Watch program. He was chief of staff to Edmund G. Brown, Jr., from 1975 to 1981, serving as a reality check on the capricious governor. In 1983-87, Davis served in the state assembly from Los Angeles county, then served as state controller for eight years. In his successful campaign for lieutenant governor in 1994, he received more votes than any other Democratic candidate in the country. As lieutenant governor he focused on efforts to keep jobs in California and encourage new and fast-growing industries to locate and expand in the state. He was overwhelmingly elected the 37th governor of California on Nov. 3, 1998, defeating state attorney general Dan Lungren 58%-38%. In the June primary election, Davis shocked political observers by not only handily defeating two better-funded Democratic opponents, but by finishing ahead of the unopposed Republican nominee. When his multimillionaire primary opponents tried to label him a career politician, Davis turned it to his advantage, boasting of "experience money can't buy." Davis made improving public education his administration's no. 1 priority. In 2002 he was reelected by a smaller margin, defeating Republican Bill Simon 47%-42%. In 2003 he faced a recall campaign, funded largely by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, a wealthy Republican businessman, accusing Davis of having turned a budget surplus into a huge deficit. The necessary signatures were collected, and in the first gubernatorial recall election in the U.S. in 82 years, Californians voted 55%-45% to remove him.
Davis, Harry L(yman) (b. Jan. 25, 1878, Cleveland, Ohio - d. May 21, 1950, Shaker Heights, Ohio), governor of Ohio (1921-23).
J.H. Davis |
Davis, James H(ouston), byname Jimmie Davis (b. Sept. 11, 1899, Quitman, La. - d. Nov. 5, 2000, Baton Rouge, La.), governor of Louisiana (1944-48, 1960-64). He said it was Gov. Sam Jones and Huey Long's brother Julius who talked him into running for governor in 1943. Backers thought his popularity as a country singer ("You Are My Sunshine") could help him end the crippling 15-year battle between the Long forces and their opponents. He was remembered for pushing through legislation in his first term creating the state's first driver's licenses, and, in his second, for seeing the state through the school desegregation battles of the early 1960s. He called five straight special legislative sessions to resist federal desegregation orders, and created a grant program to aid private school pupils after the courts prevailed. He said later that he was only doing what was best for the times. "Everybody ran on the segregation ticket. You couldn't be elected without it. When desegregation came, we did it without having anybody killed. We didn't even have a fistfight." He set a record for absenteeism during his first term, in part because he spent part time in Hollywood making movies. One of the accomplishments of his second term was the Sunshine Bridge over the Mississippi, which critics called the "bridge to nowhere" but which was later credited with fostering industrial growth in the area between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. And he had a horse named Sunshine who helped him make headlines in 1961. He rode the beast up the Capitol steps to make a point when his purchase of a Cadillac limousine was being criticized. A bid for a third try at the governorship fell short in 1971. Davis had little involvement in politics in his later years, devoting his energy to his music.
Davis, Jeff(erson) (b. May 6, 1862, near Richmond, Ark. - d. Jan. 3, 1913, Little Rock, Ark.), governor of Arkansas (1901-07). He was also a U.S. senator from Arkansas (1907-13).
J.(F.) Davis |
Davis, Jefferson (Finis1) (b. June 3, 1808, Christian county, Ky. - d. Dec. 6, 1889, New Orleans, La.), president of the Confederate States of America (1861-65); son-in-law of Zachary Taylor. In 1845 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1846 he resigned his seat in Congress to serve in the war with Mexico. After returning, he entered the Senate and soon became chairman of the Military Affairs Committee. Pres. Franklin Pierce made him secretary of war in 1853. When South Carolina withdrew from the Union in December 1860, Davis still opposed secession, though he believed that the Constitution gave a state the right to withdraw from the original compact of states. On Jan. 21, 1861, twelve days after Mississippi seceded, Davis made a moving farewell speech in the Senate and pleaded eloquently for peace. He was commissioned major general to head Mississippi's armed forces and prepare its defense. But within two weeks the Confederate Convention in Montgomery, Ala., chose him as provisional president of the Confederacy. He was inaugurated on Feb. 18, 1861, and his first act was to send a peace commission to Washington, D.C., to prevent an armed conflict. Lincoln refused to see his emissaries and the next month decided to send armed ships to Charleston, S.C., to resupply the beleaguered Union garrison at Fort Sumter. Davis reluctantly ordered the bombardment of the fort (April 12-13), which marked the beginning of the American Civil War. On May 10, 1865, Davis was captured near Irwinville, Ga., and remained a prisoner for two years. In May 1867 he was released on bail; he was never tried. He remained the chief spokesman and apologist for the defeated South. His citizenship was restored posthumously in 1978.
1 This middle name, which appears in Hudson Strode's biography of Davis and elsewhere, is considered by others as a myth, but it is known that Davis signed his name with a middle initial F. early in his life.
Davis, Jehu (b. 1740, Kent county, Delaware - d. May 11, 1802, Mispillion Hundred, Kent county), acting president of Delaware (1789).
Davis, John (b. Jan. 13, 1787, Northborough, Mass. - d. April 19, 1854, Worcester, Mass.), governor of Massachusetts (1834-35, 1841-43); brother-in-law of George Bancroft.
Davis, Sir John (Gilbert) (b. March 24, 1911 - d. Feb. 3, 1989), lieutenant governor of Jersey (1969-74); knighted 1964.
Davis, John E(dward) (b. April 18, 1913, Minneapolis, Minn. - d. May 12, 1990, Rancho Mirage, Calif.), governor of North Dakota (1957-61).
Davis, John W(esley) (b. April 16, 1799, New Holland, Pa. - d. Aug. 22, 1859, Carlisle, Ind.), governor of Oregon (1853-54). He was also speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (1845-47) and U.S. commissioner to China (1848-50).
Davis, John W(illiam) (b. March 7, 1826, Rehoboth, Mass. - d. Jan. 26, 1907, Pawtucket, R.I.), governor of Rhode Island (1887-88, 1890-91).
Davis, John W(illiam) (b. April 13, 1873, Clarksburg, W.Va. - d. March 24, 1955, Charleston, S.C.), U.S. presidential candidate (1924). In 1899 he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates and in 1910 to the U.S. House of Representatives. From 1913 to 1918 he served as solicitor general of the United States, and he was one of Pres. Woodrow Wilson's advisers at the Paris peace conference following World War I (1919). He also served as ambassador to Great Britain (1918-21). At the Democratic National Convention of 1924, neither the supporters of New York governor Alfred E. Smith nor those of the more traditional William G. McAdoo would yield their votes in order to settle on a presidential candidate. After 102 ballots the party compromised by choosing Davis, who went down to overwhelming defeat that fall before Republican Calvin Coolidge. In 1932 he supported Franklin D. Roosevelt for president but soon after Roosevelt's election Davis found himself in disagreement with the president's New Deal policies. In 1935 Davis and other prominent political figures organized the Liberty League to oppose the New Deal. He supported Republican candidates on several occasions, such as Wendell L. Willkie in 1940 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952.
Davis, Jonathan M(cMillan) (b. April 27, 1871, Bronson, Kan. - d. June 27, 1943, Fort Scott, Kan.), governor of Kansas (1923-25).
Davis, Leslie Harold Newsom (b. April 6, 1909 - d. June 16, 2003, Heyshott, Sussex, England), British resident in Brunei (1948).
Davis, Leslie James (b. Feb. 3, 1925 - d. 1997), high commissioner of the Cook Islands (1965-72).
Paul Davis | Philip Davis | Terry Davis |
Davis, Paul (Alfred) (b. June 17, 1961), premier of Newfoundland and Labrador (2014-15).
Davis, Philip (Edward), byname Brave Davis (b. June 7, 1951, Nassau, Bahamas), prime minister of The Bahamas (2021- ). He has also been deputy prime minister and minister of works and urban development (2012-17) and leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (2017- ).
Davis, Robert Leslie (b. March 22, 1930), administrator of the British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus (1980-83).
Davis, Sir (Steuart) Spencer (b. 1875 - d. April 3, 1950), governor of Saint Helena (1932-37); knighted 1930.
Davis, Terry, byname of Terence Anthony Gordon Davis (b. Jan. 5, 1938, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England), secretary-general of the Council of Europe (2004-09).
Davis, Sir Tom, byname of Sir Thomas Robert Alexander Harries Davis (b. June 11, 1917, Ruatonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - d. July 23, 2007, Rarotonga), prime minister of the Cook Islands (1978-83, 1983-87); knighted 1980. A medical scientist who once worked for NASA in the United States, he was also high commissioner to New Zealand in 2004-05.
Davis, Westmoreland (b. Aug. 21, 1859, aboard ship en route from Boston, Mass., to Liverpool, England - d. Sept. 2, 1942, Baltimore, Md.), governor of Virginia (1918-22).
William Davis |
Davis, William (Grenville), byname Bill Davis (b. July 30, 1929, Brampton, Ont. - d. Aug. 8, 2021, Brampton), premier of Ontario (1971-85). He began his political involvement at an early age. At 13 he was a delegate to a national students political convention, and at 20 he was president of the Peel Riding Progressive Conservative Association. He was first elected to the Ontario legislature to represent Peel riding in 1959 and was reelected in six subsequent elections between 1963 and 1981. He served as Ontario minister of education (1962-71) and Ontario minister of university affairs (1964-71). In the latter position he presided over the reshaping and expansion of the province's educational system. In 1971 Davis replaced John Robarts as leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, and on March 1 he was sworn in as premier of Ontario. While a member of the legislature, Davis served on the select committee studying the executive and administrative problems of the government. As premier, he used his administrative skills and thorough knowledge of government to initiate and carry out a complete reorganization of governmental structures. During 1980 and 1981 Davis was in the forefront of the national debate over the Canadian constitution. Along with Premier Richard Hatfield of New Brunswick, he supported the stand of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau against the opposition of the premier of the other eight provinces. Trudeau wished the Canadian government to gain control over the Canadian constitution, which, as an act of the British Parliament, was still under the control of the U.K. Also along with Trudeau, Davis endorsed a strong role for the federal government to counter Canada's increasingly assertive provinces.
Davison, Sir Ronald (Keith) (b. Nov. 16, 1920, Kaponga, N.Z. - d. July 2, 2015, Auckland, N.Z.), acting governor-general of New Zealand (1980, 1985); knighted 1978. He was chief justice (1978-89).
Davit` (b. 1756 - d. November 1795, Ahiska, Ottoman Empire [now Akhaltsikhe, Georgia]), king of Imeret`i (1784-89); son of King Giorgi VII.
Davitadze, Daud (Aliyevich) (b. 1901, Urekhi, Kutaisi province, Russia [now in Ajaria, Georgia] - d. ...), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Adzharistan (1938-54). He was also people's commissar of justice (1937-38).
Davitadze, Levan (Mikhailovich) (b. 1916), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Adzhar A.S.S.R. (1961-75).
Davletov, Ruslanbek (Kuroltayevich) (b. June 1, 1980, Shavat district, Khorezm oblast, Uzbek S.S.R.), justice minister of Uzbekistan (2017-22).
Davletyarov, Akhmetsafa (Mustafovich) (b. July 1905 - d. [executed] May 9, 1938, Kazan, Tatar A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Tatar A.S.S.R. (1937).
Davlyatkadamov, Khushkadam (Davlyatkadamovich) (b. Dec. 5, 1924, Yemts, Pamir okrug, Uzbek S.S.R. [now in Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan] - d. Dec. 3, 1995, Dushanbe, Tajikistan), chairman of the Executive Committee (1967-70) and first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1970-78) of Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous oblast. He was also minister of higher and secondary special education of the Tadzhik S.S.R. (1978-84).
Davoodi, Parviz (b. 1952, Tehran, Iran - d. April 18, 2024, Tehran), first vice president of Iran (2005-09). He was also head of the National Elites Foundation (2005-07).
Davud Pasha, (Garabet Artin) (b. c. 1816, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. 1873, Biarritz, France), governor of Mount Lebanon (1861-68). He was also Ottoman minister of public works (1868-71).
Davudov, Yusup (Gurbanberdiyevich), Turkmen Ýusup (Gurbanberdyýewiç) Dawudow (b. 1969, Ashkhabad, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan]), a deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan (2005-07). He was also minister of energy and industry (2005-07).
Davutoglu |
Davutoglu, Ahmet (b. Feb. 26, 1959, Taskent, Konya province, Turkey), foreign minister (2009-14) and prime minister (2014-16) of Turkey.
Davydov, Oleg (Dmitriyevich) (b. May 25, 1940, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), a deputy prime minister of Russia (1994-97). He was also minister of foreign economic relations (1993-97).
Dawaleh, Ilyas Moussa (b. Oct. 21, 1966), economy and finance minister of Djibouti (2011- ).
Dawalibi, Maaruf al-, Arabic Ma`ruf al-Dawalibi (b. 1907, Aleppo, Ottoman Empire [now in Syria] - d. Jan. 15, 2004, Saudi Arabia), speaker of parliament (1951), prime minister (1951, 1961-62), and foreign minister (1961-62) of Syria. In 1947, one year after Syria achieved full independence, he ran for parliament, becoming a deputy for Aleppo. In 1949 he was named economy minister. A co-founder of the People's Party, which advocated maintaining Syria's democratic system and establishing union with neighbouring Iraq, he established a reputation for his distrust of Damascus politicians. In 1951 he first formed a government, but one day later the army took power in a coup led by Col. Adib al-Shishakli. He served as defense minister under Pres. Hashim al-Atassi in 1954-55 and became prime minister in 1961, when the People's Party was voted back into office, but in 1962 was again removed in a coup. When, on March 8, 1963, the Ba`th party came to power, Dawalibi was arrested along with all "anti-unionist" politicians (i.e. those who had supported Syria's secession from the United Arab Republic in 1961) and incarcerated in the notorious Mezze military prison. A few months later, he was released and exiled to Lebanon. He then moved to Saudi Arabia where he served as private adviser to the successive kings.
Dawee Chullasapya (b. Aug. 8, 1914, Thonburi [now part of Bangkok], Siam [now Thailand] - d. Feb. 4, 1996, Bangkok), defense minister of Thailand (1973-74). He was also minister of communications (1969-71), agriculture and cooperatives (1972-73), and public health (1976) and a deputy prime minister (1976-80).
Dawes, Charles G(ates) (b. Aug. 27, 1865, Marietta, Ohio - d. April 23, 1951, Evanston, Ill.), U.S. vice president (1925-29). He was also ambassador to the United Kingdom (1929-32). He won the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Sir Austen Chamberlain.
Dawes, James W(illiam) (b. Jan. 8, 1844, McConnelsville, Ohio - d. Oct. 8, 1918, Milwaukee, Wis.), governor of Nebraska (1883-87).
Dawes, Karl Friederich Griffin (b. Jan. 5, 1861, Fredrikstad, Norway - d. April 8, 1941), defense minister of Norway (1907-08). He was also commanding admiral (1910-19).
Dawes, Thomas (b. Aug. 5, 1731, Boston, Massachusetts Bay [now Mass.] - d. Jan. 2, 1809, Boston), acting governor of Massachusetts (1800).
Dawit Yohannes (b. Oct. 10, 1956, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - d. January 2019, New York), Ethiopian politician. He was speaker of the House of People's Representatives (1995-2005) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2006-10).
Dawkins, Arthur Francis (b. Oct. 26, 1916, Mandalay, Burma [now Myanmar] - d. Nov. 3, 2009, Honiton, Devon, England), administrator of Montserrat (1956-60).
Dawkins, John (Sydney) (b. March 2, 1947, Perth, W.Aus.), Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the House of Representatives for Tangney (1974-75) and Fremantle (1977-94). Under Prime Minister Bob Hawke he was minister of finance and public service (1983-84), trade and youth affairs (1984-87), and employment, education and training (1987-91). In 1991-93 he was treasurer in Paul Keating's government. His high international prestige was underscored by the seriousness with which the British press received his attack on Tory politics in the U.K. in 1992. Dawkins viewed conditions in London under Prime Minister John Major as a model for life in Australia should the Australian Conservatives win office. In a vivid description to the Australian parliament, he said, "At about 5 o'clock every evening there is a rush to see who can occupy the doorways of Australia House in London in order to have somewhere to sleep at night." Addressing Australia's Conservatives, he continued, "You can see the results of your policies every day in Britain as people go around looking for a doorway in which to huddle and go into subways to beg for some kind of support that their government will not give them." He kept a tight rein on economic policy, forcing errant ministers to back down when they stepped out of line and criticized party orthodoxy. In November 1992 a Senate inquiry into government borrowing practices was launched at the request of the opposition. It was charged that Dawkins allegedly had concealed a $1.3 billion increase in borrowing by the former Labor government in Victoria to ensure a victory for that party in the November elections. Though Labor was defeated in a landslide, the controversy escalated and contributed to a weakness in the Australian dollar.
Dawson, Anderson, originally Andrew Dawson (b. July 16, 1863, Rockhampton, Queensland - d. July 20, 1910, Brisbane, Qld.), premier of Queensland (1899) and defence minister of Australia (1904).
C. Dawson |
Dawson, Chris(topher John) (b. 1959?), governor of Western Australia (2022- ).
Dawson, Christopher William (b. May 31, 1896 - d. March 2, 1983), acting governor of Sarawak (1949-50). He was chief secretary (1946-50).
Dawson, Ivan (b. March 1, 1914, Ballast Bay, Tortola island, British Virgin Islands - d. April 22, 2001, Ballast Bay), British Virgin Islands politician. He was deputy chief minister and minister of natural resources and public health (1967-71) and speaker of the legislature (1975-83).
Dawson, John W. (b. Oct. 21, 1820, Cambridge, Ind. - d. Sept. 10, 1877, Indiana), governor of Utah (1861).
Dawson, William M(ercer) O(wens) (b. May 21, 1853, Bloomington, Md. - d. March 12, 1916, Charleston, W.Va.), governor of West Virginia (1905-09).
Day, Peter A(ndrew) (b. 1926 - d. 2021), administrator of Tristan da Cunha (1959-61, 1963-65).
S. Day |
Day, Stockwell (Burt) (b. Aug. 16, 1950, Barrie, Ont.), Canadian politician. He was elected to Alberta's provincial legislature in 1986 to represent the riding of Red Deer. He served the Progressive Conservative government of Alberta in various posts. As treasurer for three years, he presided over an economic boom in the oil- and gas-rich western province that allowed him to deliver a string of billion-dollar budget surpluses. On July 8, 2000, he was elected leader of the new right-wing Canadian Alliance party. After winning over 70% of the vote in a by-election in the federal constituency of Okanagan-Coquihalla, Day was officially sworn in as a member of parliament on Sept. 19, 2000, and became leader of the opposition in the House of Commons. An Alliance proposal to allow referenda if 3% of voters signed petitions prompted the satirical television show This Hour Has 22 Minutes to launch a petition to have Day's first name changed to "Doris"; over one million people signed the petition through the show's website. Infighting within the Alliance led Day in July 2001 to call a new leadership ballot for March 2002. On Dec. 12, 2001, he resigned and was replaced on an interim basis by John Reynolds, but remained in the race to succeed himself, which he ultimately lost to Stephen Harper. When Harper became prime minister, Day became minister of public safety (2006-08), then minister of international trade (2008-10) and president of the Treasury Board (2010-11). He did not seek reelection to parliament in 2011.
Day, William R(ufus) (b. April 17, 1849, Ravenna, Ohio - d. July 9, 1923, Mackinac Island, Mich.), U.S. secretary of state (1898). He was also an associate justice of the Supreme Court (1903-22).
Dayal, Harishwar (b. July 14, 1915 - d. May 19, 1964, Gorakshep region, eastern Nepal), Indian political officer in Sikkim (1948-52) and chief minister of Sikkim (1949). He was also Indian ambassador to Nepal (1960-64).
Dayal, Rajeshwar (b. Aug. 12, 1909, Naini Tal, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh [now Nainital, Uttarakhand], India - d. Sept. 17, 1999, New Delhi, India), Indian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires in the Soviet Union (1949), permanent representative to the United Nations (1952-54), ambassador to Yugoslavia and minister to Romania and Bulgaria (1955-58), high commissioner to Pakistan (1958-62), UN special representative in the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960-61), and ambassador to France (1965-67).
Dayal, Ranjit Singh (b. Nov. 15, 1928, Burma [now Myanmar] - d. Jan. 29, 2012, Panchkula, Haryana, India), lieutenant governor of Pondicherry (1988-90) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1990-93).
Dayan |
Dayan, Moshe (b. May 20, 1915, Deganya Alef, Ottoman Empire [now in Israel] - d. Oct. 16, 1981, Tel Aviv, Israel), Israeli politician. As a youth he trained in the Haganah, a Jewish volunteer defense force. In 1939 he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for membership in the Haganah (declared illegal by the British mandatory authorities) but in 1941 was released for service in the British forces. While leading a Jewish company against the Vichy French in Syria, he lost his left eye and thereafter wore the black patch that became a distinguishing mark. He remained an intelligence officer with the Haganah until 1948 and commanded the Jerusalem area during Israel's war of independence. In 1953 he was appointed chief of staff of the Israeli army. He engineered the plan for the invasion of Sinai, which he brilliantly executed in 1956 during the ill-fated Suez adventure. After retiring from military service in 1958 he joined the Mapai (Labour Party) and was elected to the Knesset (parliament) in 1959. In 1965 he joined David Ben-Gurion in leaving Mapai and in forming the Rafi party. On June 1, 1967, he became defense minister. His collaboration with Maj.Gen. Yitzhak Rabin then led to Israel's overwhelming victory in the Six-Day War (June 5-10, 1967). When Egypt and Syria unexpectedly attacked Israel on Oct. 6, 1973 (Yom Kippur), he was pilloried for the country's lack of preparedness. When Rabin became prime minister in June 1974, he dropped Dayan from the cabinet. In 1977 he became foreign minister under Menachem Begin. In 1978 he was one of the chief architects of the Camp David accords. He resigned in October 1979. In 1981 he formed a new party, Telem, which advocated unilateral Israeli disengagement from the territories occupied in 1967.
Dayori, Antoine (b. Aug. 2, 1960, Yondisseri, Dahomey [now Benin]), Beninese politician. He was minister of culture, crafts, and tourism (2005-06) and a minor presidential candidate (2006, 2011).
Dayton, Mark (Brandt) (b. Jan. 26, 1947, Minneapolis, Minn.), governor of Minnesota (2011-19). He was also a U.S. senator from Minnesota (2001-07).
Daza, Hilarión (b. Jan. 14, 1840, Sucre, Bolivia - d. [assassinated] Feb. 27, 1894, Uyuni, Bolivia), provisional president of Bolivia (1876-79).
Daza Valenzuela, Pedro (b. March 4, 1925, Santiago, Chile - d. Oct. 8, 2005), Chilean diplomat. He was ambassador to Venezuela (1975-77) and Bolivia (1977-78) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1984-90).