Fidel Castro

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2008. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, she also served as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under her administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and socialist reforms were implemented throughout society.