Ngo Dinh Diem, who died at the age of 62, was the first president of South Vietnam. Formerly the Prime Minister under Emperor Bao Dai from 1954 to 1955, he was appointed president of the newly established Republic of Vietnam in 1955. Diem was an active force in South Vietnam politics and was regarded for his determination to improve the country's infrastructure, build hospitals, schools, and roads. He also established the nation’s first modern economy. His rivalry with Buddhists and his refusal to allow free, fair and open elections led to mass protests and civil unrest in the country, and in 1963, he was overthrown by a coup and assassinated. Diem’s legacy will remain a contested one, but many will remember his persistent pursuit of a better and more prosperous Vietnam.