Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was the iconic revolutionary of the 20th century, whose image—beret, beard, defiant stare—became the universal symbol of rebellion. An Argentine doctor who joined Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution, Che became the theorist and practitioner of guerrilla warfare worldwide.
Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries described his youthful journey across South America that radicalized him. In Cuba, he helped win the revolution, served as president of the national bank and minister of industry, and developed the theory of the 'New Man'—a revolutionary consciousness transcending material incentives.
Che left Cuba to spread revolution, failing in the Congo before his final campaign in Bolivia. Captured and executed by Bolivian forces with CIA assistance in 1967, he became more powerful in death than life. His image adorns t-shirts worldwide, making him history's most commercialized revolutionary. Whether Che was romantic idealist or ruthless killer, his commitment to revolutionary struggle—and his photogenic martyrdom—created an enduring icon.