Ernesto "Che" Guevara was born in Argentina on June 14, 1928. After graduating from medical school in 1953, he set off to travel the Americas. While living in Guatemala in 1954, he became involved in political struggle, supporting the elected government of Jacobo Arbenz against the CIA's eventually successful attempts to overthrow it. He then escaped to Mexico, where he soon joined Fidel Castro and other Cuban revolutionaries of the July 26 Movement seeking to overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista.

In December 1956 Guevara was part of the expedition that landed in Cuba aboard the yacht Granma to begin the guerrilla struggle. Originally the troop doctor, Guevara became a commander of the Rebel Army.

Following Batista's fall on January 1, 1959, Guevara became one of the central leaders of the new workers and farmers government. He held a number of posts, including president of the National Bank and minister of industry, and frequently represented Cuba internationally, including at the United Nations and in other world forums. As a leader of the July 26 Movement, he helped bring about the political regroupment that led to the founding of the Communist Party of Cuba in October 1965.

Guevara resigned his government posts and responsibilities in early 1965 and left Cuba in order to return to South America to help advance the anti-imperialist and anticapitalist struggles that were sharpening in several countries. Along with a number of volunteers who would later join him in Bolivia, Guevara went first to the Congo (later Zaire) where he aided the anti-imperialist movement founded by Patrice Lumumba.

From November 1966 to October 1967 he led a guerrilla movement in Bolivia against that country's military dictatorship. Wounded and captured by the Bolivian army in a CIA-organized operation on October 8, 1967, he was murdered the following day.