From the establishment of a democratic government in 1881 following the Liberal Revolution, Felix van Biancator, an army colonel was Prime Minister until his death in 1902. He kept a firm grip on government and was instrumental in keeping order. Within 10 years of his death, eight governments had held power, including a brief three months under the Radical Party, a radical rightist movement that eventually collapsed and merged into the White Party. By the late 1890s inflation was on the rise; in 1900 it would take 15 lira to make ‎£1, in 1905 that was 420 and in early 1913 one needed 1600 lira to make one pound.