Hilarión Daza

Daza, Hilarión (ēläryōn' dä'sä), 1840-94, president of Bolivia (1876-79). Entering the army, Daza rose rapidly in rank, chiefly through the favor of the notorious Mariano Melgarejo (1818-1871). In 1870, Daza turned against his erstwhile protector, helped oust him from office, and then in 1876, Daza seized control. Heading an administration famed for corruption and bacchanalian orgies, he involved Bolivia in the War of the Pacific (see Pacific, War of the) and, after failure as a general in the field, he was deposed and exiled. When he returned from exile in 1894, he was assassinated.