Biography of Simon Bolivar

(1783/07/24 - 1830/12/17)

Simón Bolívar

Military and South American politician

From the heroic to the ridiculous there is only one step.
Simón Bolívar

He was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas (Venezuela).

Descendant of a family of Basque origin established in Venezuela since the end of the 16th century, occupying a prominent economic and social position in the province.

Son of Colonel don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Doña María Concepción Palacios and white. He had three older brothers that he, María Antonia, Juana and Juan Vicente, in addition to another girl, María de el Carmen, who died at birth. Before age three years, Simon lost his father, who died in January 1786.

The education of the children came from the mother. His upbringing was you entrusted Luisa de Mijares and later the black Hippolyta.

He studied with teachers like Andrés Bello and Simón Rodríguez. Fifteen Bolivar was already orphaned of father and mother. His uncle and guardian Don Carlos Palacios, made him move to Madrid to continue his studies. With only 19 years of age, on May 26, 1802, he married Maria Teresa of the Toro y Alayza, returning to Caracas to engage in agriculture in the inherited estates. January 22, 1803, his wife died of yellow fever. By then, he had love affairs with Anita Lemoit, native of Salamis. Simón Bolívar returns to Spain and wide his studies under the guidance of the Marquis Gerónimo de Ustariz, who introduced him to the reading of the classics ancient and modern philosophers and great thinkers. Through Spain, France and Italy. In the Monte Sacro, in Rome, he swore to liberate his fatherland (August 15, 1805). In Paris he took as a lover to Fanny de Villar.

Back in Caracas in June 1807, plotted against the regime realistic. On April 19, 1810 the Creoles dismissed the Governor and captain general Vicente Emparán, integrating a Conservative Board of the rights of Ferdinand VII, euphemism after which hiding true intentions of political independence. With the rank of Colonel, he was on a diplomatic mission to London, where he managed to tip the sympathy of the British Government towards the Venezuelan Revolution. In the same English capital, he met with Francisco de Miranda , and invited him to return to Venezuela. When already missed the first Republic, due to the military failure of the Marqués del Toro, first, and after Francisco de Miranda, who capitulated in San Mateo (25 July 1812), the main leaders had to leave the country as exiles. He was awarded the passport for Curaçao, from where they traveled to Cartagena de Indias. It was there where he published the Manifesto of Cartagena (November 2, 1812), which criticized the unresolved performance of Miranda, which led him to surrender; and in the memory to the citizens of New Granada (December 15, 1812), invited them to accompany him to liberate Venezuela, after explaining to them what were the causes of the Republican failure, listing among them the adoption of tolerant system, the dissipation of State revenues and the federal system.

He began a brilliant campaign along the river Magdalena to Cucuta. From there it undertakes the so-called 'admirable campaign' (14 of May 1813), it took him triumphantly to Caracas (August 6), after retaking the towns in its path. In Trujillo he issued the proclamation of "war to the death". When the capital city was reconquered, Simón Bolívar ruled by three Secretaries of State, but not parked in Caracas, they fought in Bárbula (September 30) and in The trenches (October 3). The Municipality of Caracas proclaimed him captain general of the armies of Venezuela, with the title of liberator (October 14). On November 10, 1813 he was defeated in Barquisimeto, although, despite everything, he could beat in Vigirima (Nov. 25) and Araure (5 December). Beat twice to the realist José Tomás Boves in San Mateo (28 February and 25 March), and on Cagigal in the first battle of Carabobo (May 28) wins that failed to strengthen the army of Bolivar. This pressed by Boves, he emigrated to East in front of 20,000 caraqueños (July 7). In Aragua de Barcelona Bolivar and Bermudez lost to Morales the bloodiest battle of the war of independence (August 17). Santiago Mariño and Bolívar proscribed by the own Patriots, they departed for Cartagena de Indias, then that the Liberator issued his famous Manifesto of Carúpano (September 7). At the end of 1814 Boves died, and the Patriots were defeated in Urica (December 5).

Before the internal dissensions of the neogranadian, Simón Bolívar resigned and embarked bound for Jamaica (May 10, 1815), where he gave his famous Letter from Jamaica (September 6), considered prophetic by the visionary scope containing as regards the future policy of the Latin American countries. Jamaica became Haiti, where Venezuelan exiles named him Supreme head, and with this character organized the 'Expedition of Los Cayos' ships and ammunition provided by the Haitian President Alexandre Pétion. At the forefront of this expedition, landed Bolivar Juan Griego, isla Margarita (2 May 1816), after having delivered the day before the naval battle near Los Frailes. Unsuccessful this part of the campaign, despite having moved on to Ocumare coast, returns to Haiti, and with a second expedition landed in Juan Griego (28 December), extending the Patriot action to other areas of the East and South. April 11, 1817, the battle of San Félix, took place in which the general Manuel Piar won the victory, put at the disposal of the Patriots the immense resources of Guyana and the important waterway of the OrinocoRiver. Public authorities settled in Angostura (today Ciudad Bolívar).

Bolívar created the Council of State on September 30 and the Governing Council five days later, also founded the Correo del Orinoco (June 27, 1818) as a means of disseminating ideas and Republican actions. He established personal contact with general José Antonio Páez in Los Llanos (January 30, 1818), and with this and other Patriots heads undertook known as 'Campaign of the Center', sharing (black hole, February 12) wins and losses (Semen, March 16) with Pablo Morillo. He returned to Angostura, where you installed the second Congress of Venezuela (February 15, 1819). The Speech of Angostura is the largest speaking part of Simón Bolívar. It is a sociological analysis of Venezuelans; is pronounced against slavery and for democracy; It maintains your preference by centralism front to the federal Constitution; proposes a hereditary Senate as the Foundation of the legislative power; tipped by an energetic Executive in the British style; It makes popular education "firstborn care of the paternal love of Congress", coining the maxim: "Moral and lights are the poles of a Republic: morality and lights are our first needs". And it raises a moral power to prevent administrative corruption, which was not welcomed by the representatives from then but as Appendix to the Constitution of Angostura (August 15, 1819).

On February 15, 1819 she was named him President of Venezuela, Bolivar, man of action, he went in search of the freedom of New Granada. From Apure, with Prairie and official troops of the British Legion, it launched the 'Campaign of the Andes', which culminated with the defeat of Barreiro in Boyacá on August 7. Fleeing Bogota the viceroy Juan Sámano, Nueva Granada was free. Bolívar created Government in Bogota, naming Vice President General Francisco de Paula Santander, issued administrative measures and returned to Angostura, where he created the Republic of Colombia, with the departments of Cundinamarca , Venezuelaand Quito (December 17, 1819).

In 1820 he signed that year an Armistice and a Treaty of regularization of the war (27 November) with the Spanish general Pablo Morillo. When this was completed it was the battle of Carabobo (June 24, 1821), which ensured the independence of Venezuela. It was entrusted to the general Antonio José de Sucre the incorporation of Guayaquil to Colombia. When this was achieved Sucre rushed to liberate Quito, what you got with the battle of Pichincha (May 24, 1822), while the Liberator won cylinder (April 7, 1824) and Junín (August 6, 1824), preludes of the battle of Ayacucho (9 December 1824), RID by Sucre, with what remained free of Spanish South America.

Manuela Sáenz, who his partner will be virtually until the end of his days he knew Bolívar in Quito. After the interview of Bolivar and José de San Martín in Guayaquil (July 27, 1822), he helped Peru with soldiers and weapons. He arrived in Lima, whose Government asked him to lead the war. Peru's Congress named him dictator (10 February 1824), and managed to control the intrigues of Peruvians themselves, at the time that organized State, created schools, established the University of Trujillo, or decreed the death penalty for the fraudsters from the public Treasury; until he was forced to delegate all their powers in Sucre (October 24, 1824), by being suspended the authority to conduct the war in Peru. After the battle of Ayacucho (9 December 1824), an Assembly gathered in Chuquisaca remembered the creation of Bolivia (August 6, 1825), whose Constitution drafted the own Bolivar. When way from Venezuela, called by the outbreak of La Cosiata (April 30, 1826), was on his in Peru named him President for life (November 30, 1826); but the Liberator did not accept. In Venezuela, it pardoned the engaged in the Cosiata and held in the office of top civilian and military Chief in Paez (January 1, 1827). Dissolved the Convention of Ocaña (9 April - 10 June 1828), Bolívar issued the Organic Decree of dictatorship (August 27) in addition to suppress the Vice Presidency of Colombia, which Santander was without authority. This led to the attempt on the life of the liberator of November 25 of that year. If physically, was saved thanks to the intervention of his lover Manuela Saenz, was morally very affected.

Bolivar resigned before the last Congress of Colombia (April 27, 1830), and departed Bogota 11 days later to Cartagena. It was there where he was told July 1, that Sucre had been murdered. This ended up undermining health already resentful of the deliverer, who arrived in Santa Marta on December 1 to move then to the quinta San Pedro Alejandrino, Santa Marta, his final resting place. Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830.

Twelve years later (1842), his mortal remains were transferred to Caracas. Burial at the National Cemetery took place on October 28, 1876.

Charges

Liberator of Bolivia
August 12, 1825 - December 29, 1825

Successor
Antonio José de Sucre

Dictator of the Peru
February 17, 1824 – January 28, 1827

Predecessor
José Bernardo de Torre Tagle

Successor
Andrés de Santa Cruz

Dictator of Guayaquil
July 11, 1822 – July 31, 1822

Predecessor
José Joaquín de Olmedo

First President of the Gran Colombia
December 17, 1819 – may 4, 1830

Successor
Sunday Caicedo

Third President of Venezuela
February 15, 1819 – December 17, 1819

Successor
José Antonio Páez

Second President of Venezuela
on August 6, 1813 - July 7, 1814

Predecessor
Cristóbal Mendoza

19th President holder of the Republic of Colombia
November 21, 1819 - December 7, 1819

Predecessor
Fernando Serrano Uribe

Successor
Francisco de Paula Santander

21st President holder of the Republic of Colombia
February 21, 1827 – June 13, 1830

Predecessor
Francisco de Paula Santander

Successor
Sunday Caicedo and Santa Maria