William Walker

American filibuster and mercenary who invaded Nicaragua in 1855 — briefly declaring himself President of Nicaragua — and who was executed in Honduras in 1860, representing the violent American adventurism in Central America that preceded the business empires of the banana companies.

Represents the lawless American intervention in Central America that established the political instability context in which banana companies like United Fruit would later operate — and provides historical backdrop for understanding how Central American 'banana republics' were shaped by American interests.