Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo (1863-1932) was twice president of Peru. During his presidency the first industrialization of Peru began, and the country settled most of its boundary disputes with its neighbors.

Augusto Bernardino Leguía was born on Feb. 19, 1863, in Lambayeque. Educated in Valparaíso, Chile, he served in the Peruvian army during the War of the Pacific (1879-1881). After the war he was an insurance executive with the New York Life Insurance Company. By 1900 Leguía was a rich man. In 1903 he became Peru's minister of finance, serving until he resigned in 1907 to run for the presidency.

Elected, he served from Sept. 24, 1908, to Sept. 24, 1912. After leaving office Leguía was under constant attack by the new government and was finally exiled. He lived in London from 1913 to 1919, when he returned to run again for president. Having been elected, and fearing...