Andrés Ignacio Menéndez (1 February 1879 – 7 or 13 June 1962) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as provisional president of El Salvador from 1934 to 1935 and in 1944. He also served as El Salvador's defense minister from 1935 to 1944.
Biography
Andrés Ignacio Menéndez was born on 1 February 1879 in Santa Ana, El Salvador. He married Catalina Carballo. Menéndez rose through the ranks in the Salvadoran Army, becoming sub-lieutenant on 18 October 1898; lieutenant on 24 March 1904; captain on 1 August 1906; major captain on 24 May 1907; lieutenant colonel on 20 May 1911; colonel on 21 May 1915; and brigadier general on 10 August 1920.
On 2 April 1934, President Brigadier General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez appointed Menéndez as Minister of War, the Navy, and Aviation (minister of war). On 29 August, Menéndez became the provisional president of El Salvador after Martínez resigned to run in the 1935 presidential election. Martínez won the election and he assumed office on 1 March 1935. That day, Martínez reappointed Menéndez as minister of war.
Menéndez became the first presidential designate in April 1944 after the failed Palm Sunday Coup. Martínez resigned during the Strike of Fallen Arms on 9 May and Menéndez became provisional president. Menéndez was overthrown in a coup led by Colonel Osmín Aguirre y Salinas on 21 October.
Menéndez died on 7 or 13 June 1962 in the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, United States. His remains were returned to El Salvador and he was buried in the General Cemetery of San Salvador.
Dates of ranks
The following is a list of Menéndez's military ranks during his career.
{|class="wikitable"
! Insignia !! Rank !! Service branch !! Date of promotion
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Sub-lieutenant || Sub-lieutenant || Army || 18 October 1898
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Lieutenant || Lieutenant || Army || 24 March 1904
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Captain || Captain || Army || 1 August 1906
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Major captain || Major captain || Army || 24 May 1907
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Lieutenant colonel || Lieutenant colonel || Army || 20 May 1911
|-
| align="center" | 30px|Colonel || Colonel || Army || 21 May 1915
|-
| align="center" | 30px|General || Brigadier general || Army || 10 August 1920
|}