José de San Martín

José de San Martín (1778 - 1850, pictured here in his 40s) is known as "El Libertador” of Argentina, Chile and Peru. He was an Argentine general and the foremost leader of the struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire in the southern and central parts of South America. Born to a Spanish soldier while stationed in Argentina, Jose spent only 6 years in South America before returning to Spain. After returning to Spain as a boy, he spent a large part of his adult life serving the King of Spain..There seemed to be a change in San Martin’s loyalties in 1812 when he offered his services to the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata in Argentina. Despite serving Spain faithfully for many years, he saw the difficulties the provinces were having with the colonial rule of Spain, and chose loyalty to his native-born region over the Spanish Empire. San Martin quickly distinguished himself as a great trainer and leader of soldiers. He began raising armies and strategizing the takedown of Royalist strongholds like Lima..After seizing control of Lima in 1821, San Martín was appointed Protector of Peru. Peruvian independence was officially declared on 28 July. You may remember the former Royalty Now subject Simon Bolivar. After a closed-door meeting between the two men in 1822, Bolivar took over the task of fully liberating Peru. Historians feverishly debate what happened here, because it was after that meeting that San Martín unexpectedly left the country and resigned the command of his army, excluding himself from politics and the military, and moved to France in 1824. San Martín is regarded as a national hero of Argentina and Peru, and one of the Liberators of Spanish South America. The Order of the Liberator General San Martín, created in his honor, is the highest decoration conferred by the Argentine government.

Left Portrait base: Public Domain of the United States, Courtesy of Instituto Nacional Sanmartiniano. Right Portrait base: iStock Photo. Created using Photoshop.

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