Nicaragua enjoys somewhat of a cult status when it comes to tourism. And why not? With its awe-inspiring natural beauty, myriad lakes and volcanoes, and food, it makes every sense for the world to tout it as a tourist’s paradise. However, not very long ago, there was a time when the very mention of the country evoked a grainy footage of camouflage-clad guerrillas, punctuated by gunfire and a 1980s soundtrack. However, all that has change now and how? Nicaragua has come a long way from its warring past now. All thanks to the unrelenting efforts of the Nicaraos who have toiled hard to drive their country to its current standing. Once cornered as a warring tribal country, today Nicaragua stands shoulder to shoulder with other countries lauded for their avant-garde inventions and progressive philosophies. Without wasting any time, let us get exploring the biographies of some great and famous Nicaraguans whose contribution to the upliftment of their land and the world at large has been colossal. Rest assured, their timeline, trivia, and other facts would worth your time.
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1
Alexis Arguello(Nicaraguan Three-weight World Champion Boxer)
Birthdate: April 19, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Died: July 1, 2009
Nicaraguan professional boxer Alexis Arguello had once held the world featherweight, lightweight, and junior lightweight titles. He fought for the Contras against the Sandinista regime, and then continued his boxing career in the US, before returning to politics and becoming the mayor of Managua. He eventually died by suicide.
2
Ricardo Mayorga(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer and Former Mixed Martial Artist Known for His Trash-Talks Before the Fight)
Birthdate: October 3, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Masaya, Nicaragua
Ricardo Mayorga is a Nicaraguan former boxer and mixed martial artist. Often referred to as the craziest man in boxing, Mayorga is known for his antics outside the ring as much as for his achievements inside the ring. An entertaining boxer, 26 out of his 32 wins were knockouts. From 2005 to 2006, he held the WBC super welterweight title.
3
Rubén Darío(Nicaraguan Poet Who Initiated the Spanish-Language Literary Movement Known as "Modernismo")
Birthdate: January 18, 1867
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ciudad Darío, Nicaragua
Died: February 6, 1916
The leader of the 19th-century Spanish-American Modernismo movement, Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío had been a prodigy who had started writing poems at age 14. Best remembered for his works such as Azul, he earned the tag of the Prince of Castilian Letters. He had also held various diplomatic posts.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: May 18, 1895
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Niquinohomo, Nicaragua
Died: February 21, 1934
Augusto César Sandino was a Nicaraguan revolutionary. From 1927 to 1933, Sandino led a rebellion against the United States occupation of Nicaragua, due to which he was lauded as a hero throughout Latin America. Although the US government labeled him a bandit, Sandino went on to become a symbol of resistance and is revered as a national hero in Nicaragua.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: February 1, 1896
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: San Marcos, Nicaragua
Died: September 29, 1956
Anastasio Somoza García was a Nicaraguan leader who served as the president of Nicaragua from 1937 to 1947 and again from 1950 to 1956. Before becoming the president of Nicaragua, Somoza played a major role in ousting the then-President Adolfo Díaz. Somoza is credited with starting the Somoza family, which had absolute control over Nicaragua for more than four decades.
6
Dennis Martínez(Baseball player)
Birthdate: May 14, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
7
Luis Enrique(Singer)
Birthdate: September 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Somoto, Nicaragua
8
Jonathan Loáisiga(Baseball player)
Birthdate: November 2, 1994
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
9
Ernesto Cardenal(Nicaraguan Catholic Priest and Poet; Founder of the 'Primitivist' Art Community in the Solentiname Islands)
Birthdate: January 20, 1925
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
Died: March 1, 2020
Nicaraguan priest Ernesto Cardenal was one of the most significant poets of his country. His works despised American imperialism and capitalism and used slogans as symbols. He was also part of the Sandinista Front that removed Anastasio Somoza, following which he became the minister of culture in the new cabinet.
10
Felix Alvarado(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: February 15, 1989
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
11
Pedro Miguel Arce(Actor)
Birthdate: June 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
12
Tony Meléndez(Guitar player)
Birthdate: January 9, 1962
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rivas, Nicaragua
13
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro Cardenal(Journalist)
Birthdate: September 23, 1924
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
Died: January 10, 1978
14
José Santos Zelaya(President of Nicaragua (1893 - 1909))
Birthdate: November 1, 1853
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Died: May 17, 1919
José Santos Zelaya was a Nicaraguan political figure best remembered for his service as the President of Nicaragua from 1893 to 1909. During his presidency, Zelaya enacted many progressive programs, such as established steam ship lines and improved railroads and public education. José Santos Zelaya also enacted a number of constitutional rights.
15
Román González(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: June 16, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
16
Anastasio Somoza Debayle(President of Nicaragua (1967 - 1972, 1974 - 1979))
Birthdate: December 5, 1925
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: León
Died: September 17, 1980
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a dictator and de facto ruler of Nicaragua between 1972 and 1974. He served as the President of Nicaragua on two ocassions; from 1967 to 1972 and then from 1974 to 1979. He was the last member of the infamous Somoza family to serve as Nicaraguan president. His life inspired the 1983 movie Last Plane Out.
17
Rigoberto López Pérez(Nicaraguan Poet and Assassin of Longtime Dictator of Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza García)
Birthdate: May 13, 1929
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: León, Nicaragua León, Nicaragua
Died: September 21, 1956
Rigoberto López Pérez was a Nicaraguan poet, composer, and artist. He is best remembered for murdering the longtime dictator of Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza García. 25 years after his death, Rigoberto López Pérez was declared a national hero by the Sandinista government of Nicaragua on September 21, 1981.
Birthdate: November 11, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: La Libertad, Nicaragua
Daniel Ortega is the incumbent president of Nicaragua. He has also been the Coordinator of the Junta of National Reconstruction and a Sandinista leader, too. He was part of the resistance against dictator Anastasio Somoza and later learned guerrilla tactics in Cuba. His rule is increasingly turning anti-democratic in nature.
Birthdate: July 26, 1949
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Kamphaeng District, Thailand
Thaksin Shinawatra, a successful businessman, was once one of Thailand’s richest men. The former prime minister of Thailand, Shinawatra is now in Dubai, on a self-imposed exile, following his ouster over a corruption row. However, that hasn’t stopped him from appearing in events, such as an electronics show in LA.
20
Juan Bautista Sacasa(President of Nicaragua (1933 to 1936))
Birthdate: December 21, 1874
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: León, Nicaragua
Died: April 17, 1946
Juan Bautista Sacasa was a Nicaraguan political figure best remembered for his service as the President of Nicaragua from 1933 to 1936. An influential politician, Sacasa also served as the Vice President of Nicaragua from 1925 to 1926. The decline of his popularity at the end of his presidency marked the rise of the infamous dictator, Anastasio Somoza García.
21
Rene Alvarado(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: February 15, 1989
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
22
Francisco Fonseca(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: March 24, 1994
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: El Rama, Nicaragua
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
23
Tomás Borge(Nicaraguan Statesman, Writer and Co-founder of the 'Sandinista National Liberation Front')
Birthdate: August 13, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Died: April 30, 2012
Tomás Borge was a Nicaraguan statesman and writer. He is credited with co-founding the Sandinista National Liberation Front, a socialist political party in Nicaragua. A revolutionary at heart, Tomás Borge formed friendships with Tamara Bunke and Che Guevara in an attempt to end the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza García. Tomás Borge also authored several poems and essays.
24
Hernaldo Zúñiga(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: June 2, 1955
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Masaya, Nicaragua
Birthdate: January 23, 1946
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Managua
Arnoldo Alemán is a Nicaraguan politician who became the 81st President of Nicaragua on 10 January 1997. A qualified lawyer, he practiced law for several years before entering politics. As the president, he was successful in promoting economic growth in the country. After his term ended in 2002, he was convicted of corruption. These convictions were later overturned.
26
Rosendo Álvarez(Nicaraguan Retired Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: May 6, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
27
Cristofer Rosales(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: October 6, 1994
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Birthdate: May 13, 1928
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Masaya, Nicaragua
Enrique Bolaños is a Nicaraguan former politician. He served as the president of Nicaragua from January 2002 to January 2007. Prior to this, he had been the vice president under his predecessor, Arnoldo Alemán. He was a successful businessman before he ventured into politics. As the president, he implemented many reforms to fight corruption. He has since retired from politics.
29
Luis Somoza Debayle(26th President of Nicaragua (1956 - 1963))
Birthdate: November 18, 1922
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: León, Nicaragua
Died: April 13, 1967
The son of former Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Luis Somoza Debayle led the country as its president after his father’s assassination. His regime was liberal, and he made efforts to modernize his country. After stepping down from his presidential position, he became a senator.
30
Arturo Cruz Jr.(Diplomat)
Birthdate: August 13, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
31
Camilo Mejia(United States Army)
Birthdate: August 28, 1975
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
32
Oswaldo Castillo(Nicaraguan American Actor)
Birthplace: Nicaragua
Died: March 19, 2021
33
Sergio Ramírez(Vice President of Nicaragua (1985 - 1990))
Birthdate: August 5, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Masatepe, Nicaragua
Sergio Ramírez is a Nicaraguan intellectual and writer who played an important role during the revolution of 1979. He is best known for his service as the Vice President of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990. Ramírez is the recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, Jose Donoso Award, and Casa de las Américas Novel Prize.
34
Byron Rojas(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: June 23, 1990
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Matagalpa, Nicaragua
35
Emiliano Chamorro Vargas(Former President of Nicaragua (1917 - 1921, 1926))
Birthdate: May 11, 1871
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Acoyapa, Nicaragua
Died: February 26, 1966
Emiliano Chamorro Vargas was a Nicaraguan political figure best remembered for his service as the President of Nicaragua on two occasions; he first served from 1917 to 1921 and again from March 1926 to November 1926. During his presidency, Emiliano Chamorro Vargas made an honest attempt to pay off Nicaragua's creditors.
36
Fernando Cardenal(Theologian)
Birthdate: January 26, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
Died: February 20, 2016
37
Humberto Ortega(Nicaraguan Military Leader and Revolutionary)
Birthdate: January 10, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Nicaraguan military leader Humberto Ortega, the brother of Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega, was associated with the Sandinista Popular Army, which was built to overthrow the Nicaraguan National Guard. He later served as Nicaragua’s defense minister and also penned several books, such as Epic of the Insurrection.
38
Eddie Gazo(Nicaraguan Former Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: September 12, 1950
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Lorenzo, Nicaragua
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
39
Adolfo Calero(Nicaraguan Businessman and Leader of the 'Nicaraguan Democratic Force')
Birthdate: December 22, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Died: June 2, 2012
Adolfo Calero was a Nicaraguan businessman who led the Nicaraguan Democratic Force, one of the first Contra groups of the country. The group was formed to oppose the Sandinista government. Adolfo Calero was portrayed in the 2017 American action comedy movie American Made, in which he was played by Daniel Lugo.
40
Fabio Gadea Mantilla(Nicaraguan Radio Journalist, Owner and Co-founder of Radio News Station 'Radio Corporación')
Birthdate: November 9, 1931
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nicaragua
Fabio Gadea Mantilla is a Nicaraguan writer, radio journalist, and politician. He is credited with co-founding Radio Corporación, a news radio station in Nicaragua. In 2010, Mantilla was selected to run for the presidency in the 2011 general election. He lost the election to the Sandinista National Liberation Front member Daniel Ortega.
41
Salomon de la Selva(Nicaraguan Poet and Diplomat)
Birthdate: March 20, 1893
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: León, Nicaragua
Died: February 5, 1959
Salomon de la Selva was a Nicaraguan poet and political advisor. Apart from his literary work, de la Selva is best remembered for his service as an advisor to Mexican President Miguel Alemán Valdés. Thanks to his association with Valdés, Salomon de la Selva had a major influence on Mexican politics.
42
Yader Cardoza(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: February 22, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua
43
Miguel Larreynaga(Philosopher)
Birthdate: April 29, 1771
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nicaragua
Died: April 28, 1847
44
Román y Reyes, Víctor Manuel(23rd President of Nicaragua (1947 - 1950))
Birthdate: October 13, 1872
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Carazo, Nicaragua
Died: May 6, 1950
Víctor Manuel Román y Reyes was a Nicaraguan political figure best remembered for his service as the President of Nicaragua from 1947 until his death in 1950. His actions during his presidency enabled the minority in Nicaragua to enter Congress.
45
Alfonso Cortes(Referred to as the Second-Most-Important Nicaraguan Poet)
Birthdate: December 9, 1893
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Nicaragua
Died: February 3, 1969
Legendary Nicaraguan poet Alfonso Cortes is considered the most influential poet from his country after Modernismo founder Rubén Darío. Though a fine poet, a bout of serious mental illness resulted in him being chained during much of his later life. Song of Space remains one of his most popular works.
46
Pablo Antonio Cuadra(One of the Most Popular Poets of Nicaragua)
Birthdate: November 4, 1912
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Died: January 2, 2002
Pablo Antonio Cuadra was a Nicaraguan essayist, playwright, graphic artist, art and literary critic. He is also counted among the most popular poets of Nicaragua. During his lifetime, Pablo Antonio Cuadra won many literary awards, including the prestigious Gabriela Mistral Inter-American Cultural Prize.
47
Otto de la Rocha(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: August 23, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jinotega, Nicaragua
Died: May 25, 2020
48
Roberto Solis(Nicaraguan Criminal & Convicted Murderer)
Birthdate: 1945 AD
Birthplace: Nicaragua
Roberto Solis is a Nicaraguan criminal, armored car robber, and convicted murderer. He is also known for writing poetry while spending time in prison. He spent 23 years in prison for killing a security guard named Louis Dake. Roberto Solis was given parole in 1992 and has been missing since 1993.
49
Jose Coronel Urtecho(The Most Influential Nicaraguan Thinker of the Twentieth Century)
Birthdate: February 28, 1906
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
Died: March 19, 1994
Considered Nicaragua’s most significant author, Jose Coronel Urtecho co-founded the Vanguardia movement, which was meant to attack bourgeois culture and US intervention. A supporter of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, he wrote socio-political masterpieces, which were later collated into collections such as Mea máxima culpa.
50
Carlos Buitrago(Nicaraguan Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: December 16, 1991
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
