Bernardo O'Higgins
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Bernardo O'Higgins
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| In office February 16, 1817 – January 28, 1823 |
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| Preceded by | José Miguel Carrera |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Freire |
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| Born | 1776 or 1778 Chillán, Chile |
| Died | 1842 Lima, Peru |
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (1776 or 1778 – 1842), South American independence leader, was one of the commanders – together with José de San Martín – of the military forces that freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817–23), O'Higgins was the first holder of this title to head a fully independent Chilean state.
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[edit] Early life
"As noted in his certificate of baptism, he was the illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins"[1], Marquis of Osorno, a Spanish officer born in County Sligo in Ireland, who became governor of Chile and later viceroy of Peru. "His mother was Isabel Riquelme, a prominent lady of Chillán"[1]. O'Higgins spent his early years with his mother's family in Central-south Chile, and later he lived with the Albano family in Talca, who were his father's commercial partners. Finally, at 15, Bernardo was sent to Lima by his father. He had a distant relationship with his father, who supported him financially and was concerned with his education, but the two never met in person. It has been stated that high-ranking Spanish government officials in America were forbidden to marry locals.[2], but at the time of Bernardo's birth Ambrosio O'Higgins was only a military officer. Nevertheless, Bernardo used his mother's surname until the death of his father.[1]
As Ambrosio O'Higgins became Viceroy of Peru, at seventeen Bernardo was sent to London to complete his studies.[3] There, Bernardo became acquainted with American ideas of independence and developed a sense of "nationalist pride." [1] He knew Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda asnd got involved with a "secret Masonic Lodge established in London by Miranda, the members of which were dedicated to the independence of Latin America."[1]
In 1788, Bernardo went to Spain from England. His father died in 1801, leaving Bernardo a large piece of land (hacienda Las Canteras) near the Chilean city of Los Angeles. Bernardo returned to Chile in 1802, adopted his father's surname, and began life as a "gentleman farmer" [4] In 1806, O'Higgins became heavily involved in the town council.[1]
When in 1808 Napoleon took control of Spain, the commercial and political elite decided to form an autonomous government to reign "in the name of" the prisioner king Ferdinand VII. This was one of the "first steps toward national independence." [1]
[edit] Role in the Chilean Independence and Government
On September 18, 1810, he joined the nationalist rebels fighting for independence from Spain. The Criollo leaders did not support Joseph's rule in Spain and a "limited self-government" was created "until the Spanish throne was restored" [4]. This date is now recognized as Chile's Independence Day [4].
By 1813, the threat of a Civil War in Chile had been averted by the establishment of a constitution. Throughout the war with the royalists, O'Higgins had an ongoing feud with José Miguel Carrera but the men formed a weak alliance, despite their disagreements, in order to battle the royalists led by General Mariano Osorio[5] In 1814, O'Higgins fought in a battle against the royalists. Carrera did not come to his aid and O'Higgins lost the battle as well as many soldiers. He retreated to Argentina with the survivors and remained there for three years while the royalists were in control. While in exile, O'Higgins met the Argentinean General José de San Martín and together the men returned to Chile in 1817 to defeat the royalists. Chile's independence was secured during the Battle of Chacabuco. San Martín was initially offered the position of power in the newly free Chile but he declined in order to continue the fight for independence in the rest of South America. O'Higgins accepted the position and became the leader of an independent Chile. He was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director on February 16, 1817. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic through the Chilean Declaration of Independence.
For six years, O'Higgins was a successful leader, and his government functioned well. He built a national army and navy, and joined in the battle against the Peruvian royalists.[1] He also assisted José de San Martín in organizing the Expedition and an Army and Navy to support the Independence of Peru. Within Chile, "he established courts, colleges, libraries, hospitals, cemeteries and modernised the cities"[4], "founded the Military Academy, the Naval School, a public market for Santiago, and instigated important developments in agricultural infrastructure"[5]. However, his more radical and liberal reforms, (such as the establishment of democracy and abolition of titles of nobility) were resisted by the powerful large landowners. He was deposed by a conservative coup on January 28, 1823, at which point he was briefly made governor of Conception, an appointment which did not last long.[1]
Carrera reemerged during O'Higgins' rule and was a continuous problem even after he was captured. O'Higgins was not involved in Carrera's death but he did not intervene to prevent the assassination either. Carrera's followers posed a problem towards O'Higgins government as well. [5]
O'Higgins became unpopular because of his lack of knowledge of the game of politics. He had offended the aristocracy and the church, the two main powers in Chile, very early on. He went on to offend the business people, his last semi-powerful ally within the country. The government became bankrupt and earthquake added more difficulty for the ruler. In 1822, O'Higgins established a new "controversial"[5] constitution. He was initially involved with plans of Bolivar and San Martín for Latin American independence, and even union, but was soon discarded from this plot because of his unpopularity within his own country.[1] Ramón Freire, "his closest ally"[5], turned against O'Higgins and succeeded him as dictator in 1823.
[edit] Death and legacy
After being deposed, O'Higgins spent the rest of his life in exile with his illigitimate son, Pedro Demetrio O'Higgins [1], his mother, and half-sister Rosa Rodriguez Riquelme [4]. He was permitted to return to Chile but due to his poor health, he was unable to travel [4]. He died in Lima on October 24, 1842. [1]
After his death, his remains were repatriated to Chile in 1869. The Chilean village of Villa O'Higgins was named in his honor. The main thoroughfare of the Chilean capital, Santiago, is Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins.
There is a bust of O'Higgins in Richmond, south-west London in O'Higgins Square, named after him. Each year the borough's Mayor is joined by members of the Chilean Embassy for a ceremony and a wreath is placed. A blue plaque was erected in his honor at Clarence House in Richmond, where he lived while studying in London. There is also a plaque in his honor in Merrion Square in Dublin and in the Garavogue River Walkway in Sligo, Ireland, and a sculpture near Central Railway Station in Plaza Iberoamericana, near 58 Chalmers St Sydney, Australia.
A plaque has also been erected in Cadiz, Spain, in the Plaza de Candalaria, where he resided for four years.
Chile's Highest award for a foreign citizen is named in honour of O'Higgins.
[edit] Additional information
[edit] See also
- History of Chile
- José Miguel Carrera
- Simón Bolívar
- José de San Martín
- Benito Juárez
- José Martí
- Francisco de Miranda
- ΦΙΑ (Phi Iota Alpha), a United States university fraternity that takes Bernardo O'Higgins as one of its "five pillars".
- UNMSM List of famous alumni of UNMSM.
- Irish military diaspora
- Irish regiments
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "O'Higgins, Bernardo." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 13 Oct. 2008 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9056854>.
- ^ Crow, John A.; The Epic of Latin America (Fourth Edition); University of California Press, 1992; Page 166. Here he discusses that Viceroys and their subordinates could not contract marriage.
- ^
"Ambrose Bernard O'Higgins". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. - ^ a b c d e f Hamre, Bonnie. "Bernardo O'Higgins." 2008 About.com. October 20, 2008. <http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/ChieBOhiggins.htm>.
- ^ a b c d e Sepúlveda, Alfredo. "Sepulveda, Alfredo > "Bernardo O'Higgins: The Rebel Son of a Victory"." October 1, 2006. Society for Irish Latin American Studies, 2006. October 24, 2008. <http://www.irlandeses.org/0610sepulveda2.htm>.
[edit] External links
- Web Blog of Respetable Lodge Bernardo O'Higgins # 392 - Of Free and Acepted Masones of the Argentina, Argentine Freemasonery
- Sepúlveda, Alfredo: Bernardo O'Higgins: The Rebel Son of a Viceroy
- Bernardo O'Higgins website
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None |
Member of Government Junta 1811 |
Succeeded by None |
| Preceded by José Miguel Carrera |
Supreme Director of Chile 1817 - 1823 |
Succeeded by Ramón Freire |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by José de San Martín |
Army Commander-in-chief 1819-1823 |
Succeeded by Ramón Freire |
| Preceded by José Miguel Carrera |
Army Commander-in-chief 1813-1814 |
Succeeded by José Miguel Carrera |
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