Fidel Castro - Biography.

Fidel Castro - Biography. Cuban political leader Birth August 13, 1926? Place of Near Birán, Oriente Province, Cuba Birth Political Communist Party Official Title Head of Cuban Communist Party Term 1959-1976 Prime Minister 1976-2008 President of the Council of State Known for Serving as the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008 Milestones 1950 Received his degree in law from the University of Havana 1953 Led an unsuccessful insurrection against the government of Fulgencio Batista; delivered famous 'History Will Absolve Me' speech, but was convicted of conspiracy and imprisoned 1955 Was released from prison; went into exile in Mexico, where he trained guerilla forces with Che Guevara 1956 Landed in Cuba with a small rebel force and began conducting raids against the Batista government 1959 Entered Havana after Batista fled, and served as head of the armed forces before taking over as prime minister of the new government 1961 Defeated an attempted invasion by CIA-supported Cuban exiles who landed at the Bay of Pigs 1961 Declared his allegiance to communist ideals 1976 Became president of Cuba under a new constitution that allowed voters some limited participation in government 2008 Announced his retirement as President of the Council of State; he was succeeded by his brother, Raul Did You Despite Cuba's economic woes, Castro has remained committed to providing free, quality health care for all Cubans. Know Castro was outspoken and steadfast in his condemnation of apartheid in South Africa and enjoys a warm relationship with former South African president Nelson Mandela. As a schoolboy in 1940, Castro wrote a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt asking for a ten-dollar bill and offering to lead him to Cuban iron mines that could provide ore for use in American shipbuilding. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.