The Death of Venezuelan Dictator Juan Vicente Gómez.

Juan Vicente Gómez, the long-time dictator of Venezuela, died 90 years ago today, on December 17, 1935, in Maracay, Venezuela.

Gómez, who ruled for 27 years, died aged 78, of natural causes after a prolonged illness.

His death marked the end of a 27-year authoritarian regime and opened the way for cautious political reforms under his successor, Eleazar López Contreras. Gómez’s rule was characterized by political repression, but also by state consolidation and the early development of Venezuela’s oil economy.

After the 1914 Lake Maracaibo oil discovery, President Gómez cut Venezuela's huge debt by giving foreign oil companies concessions. Consequently, he gained backing from the US, Europe, and financial stability.