Humberto Delgado

Humberto Delgado (November 15, 1906 – February 13, 1975) was a Portuguese Air Force general and politician who became one of the most significant opposition figures against António de Oliveira Salazar's authoritarian Estado Novo regime. Born in the Azores, Delgado initially served the regime but gradually became disillusioned with its repressive nature. In 1958, he ran for president as an opposition candidate, receiving unexpectedly strong support from the Portuguese people, which alarmed the government. He continued his political activities in exile, attempting to organize resistance movements against the dictatorship. Delgado was assassinated in Spain in 1975, just months before the Carnation Revolution would finally end the Estado Novo regime he had fought against for decades. He remains a revered figure in Portuguese history as a martyr for democracy and freedom, and his legacy inspired generations of Portuguese citizens who sought to end authoritarian rule.