José de San Martín
On the 25th of February 1778, a boy named José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras was born in the town of Yapeyú. This settlement belonged to the Guaraní people and sat within the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. His father Juan held the title of lieutenant governor for that department. The family moved to Buenos Aires when José was three years old. They left South America again in 1783 to settle in Spain. Young José enrolled in Málaga's school of temporalities in 1785. He entered the Regiment of Murcia just four years later at age eleven. By 1793 he had risen to Sub-Lieutenant rank while fighting against Moors in North Africa. The War of the Second Coalition saw his ship captured by British forces. He spent time as a prisoner before returning to fight in southern Spain.
San Martín took office as Governor of Cuyo Province on the 6th of September 1814. He immediately began organizing what would become known as the Army of the Andes. He drafted all citizens capable of bearing arms alongside slaves between ages sixteen and thirty. Mining operations increased to extract lead copper saltpeter sulfur and borax. Hundreds of women wove clothing for the soldiers under Father José Luis Beltrán. A military factory employed seven hundred men producing rifles and horseshoes. The army grew to five thousand men with ten thousand mules and fifteen hundred horses by late 1816. San Martín extended emancipation to slaves aged fourteen through fifty-five. He organized military intelligence and propaganda campaigns to confuse royalist armies. The operation required crossing mountains during summer when snow levels were low enough.
The entire crossing operation lasted nearly one month starting from Mendoza. Six columns marched along different paths toward Chile. Colonel Francisco Zelada led troops through La Rioja while Juan Manuel Cabot moved from San Juan. Ramón Freire and José León Lemos commanded two southern columns. The bulk of forces departed from Mendoza across the Los Patos pass. Juan Gregorio de Las Heras led another column via the Uspallata Pass. Soldiers carried dried food while horses consumed fodder due to harsh conditions. They ate garlic and onions to prevent altitude sickness. Only four thousand three hundred mules survived out of ten thousand. Five hundred eleven horses made it through alive. This represented less than half their original complement. The Army of the Andes emerged ready for combat on the other side.
The Battle of Chacabuco began on the 12th of February 1817 near Santiago de Chile. Royalist commander Rafael Maroto brought twenty-four hundred fifty men with five artillery pieces. San Martín commanded thirty-six hundred men supported by nine cannons. O'Higgins rushed eastward without coordinating fully with Soler's western column. San Martín ordered Soler to attack immediately after seeing the delay. Combined forces secured victory with six hundred royalists dead and five hundred captured. Only twelve soldiers died in the Army of the Andes while one hundred twenty were injured. The army entered Santiago the following day. Governor Francisco Marcó del Pont fled but was captured on the 22nd of February. Later battles included Cancha Rayada where royalists attacked at night causing confusion. One thousand patriots fled before Las Heras saved three thousand five hundred men. The final Battle of Maipú ended the afternoon fighting when royalists dispersed completely. Osorio escaped with two hundred cavalrymen while all others were killed or captured. An embrace between San Martín and O'Higgins became known as the Embrace of Maipú.
After resigning San Martín sailed to Europe intending to live quietly in Cuyo first. His wife María de los Remedios died in 1823 prompting return to South America briefly before departure again. They settled in Brussels where Mercedes completed her education. Rivadavia visited but San Martín declined dueling despite personal feuds. He offered military services during the War with Brazil receiving no response. Lavalle executed Dorrego leading San Martín back to Montevideo then Brussels. Rosas pacified civil wars earning admiration through friendly letters exchanged later. Cholera epidemic struck Brussels forcing move to Paris where both father and daughter fell ill. Mariano Balcarce helped them recover before marrying Mercedes producing granddaughter María Mercedes. France blockaded Rio de la Plata against Rosas starting in 1837. San Martín condemned unitarian alliances with foreign powers offering curved saber to Rosas instead. During French revolution of 1848 he left Paris moving to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Almost blind and suffering
health issues he wrote letters until death at three o'clock on the 17th of August 1850.
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Common questions
When and where was José de San Martín born?
José de San Martín was born on the 25th of February 1778 in the town of Yapeyú within the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. His father Juan served as lieutenant governor for that department.
How did José de San Martín organize the Army of the Andes?
José de San Martín organized the Army of the Andes by drafting citizens capable of bearing arms alongside slaves between ages sixteen and thirty while increasing mining operations to extract lead copper saltpeter sulfur and borax. The army grew to five thousand men with ten thousand mules and fifteen hundred horses by late 1816.
What were the results of the Battle of Chacabuco led by José de San Martín?
The Battle of Chacabuco began on the 12th of February 1817 near Santiago de Chile and resulted in six hundred royalists dead and five hundred captured. Only twelve soldiers died in the Army of the Andes while one hundred twenty were injured during this engagement.
On what date did José de San Martín declare Peruvian independence?
José de San Martín declared Peruvian independence on the 28th of July 1821 during an open cabildo meeting in Lima. This declaration followed a naval operation from Chile that landed at Paracas two hundred kilometers south of Lima on the 7th of September 1820.
When and where did José de San Martín die?
José de San Martín died at three o'clock on the 17th of August 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer France. He had moved there after leaving Paris due to health issues and the French revolution of 1848.