Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817–1823), he is considered one of Chile 's founding fathers. In 1814 he took over command of the patriot forces from the rival independence leader, José Miguel Carrera. Their harsh brutality only caused the people of Chile to long for independence. The Army of the Andes, as it was called, defeated the royalists at the Battle of Chacabuco on February 12, 1817, clearing the path to Santiago. When they did manage to take part of the town, the rebel forces engaged in raping and looting, which caused the province to sympathize with the royalist side. O'Higgins attempted to placate his foes with a new constitution, but it was too little, too late. The rebels decided to make a stand outside the town of Rancagua, on the way to the capital. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817–1823), he is considered one of Chile 's founding fathers. San Martín believed that all of the lands to the south would be vulnerable as long as Peru remained a royalist stronghold. A city is named after him, as well as several Chilean navy ships, countless streets, and a military base. One-third of Chile is covered by the towering ranges of the Andes. O'Higgins, left in power by San Martín, proved to be an authoritarian ruler. He then alienated the commercial class by continuing to contribute to expensive wars in Peru. (2020, August 28). O'Higgins and his generals battled Spanish and royalist forces throughout Chile for another year before the next decisive engagement. O'Higgins, Bernardo (bĕrnär`thō ōē`gēns), 1778–1842, South American revolutionary and ruler (1817–23) of Chile; illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins.He was chosen in 1813 to replace José Miguel Carrera Carrera, José Miguel, 1785–1821, Chilean revolutionist. Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (1778–1842) was a Chilean independence leader. Many of his liberal policies, seen as radical at the time, are respected today. Bernardo O'Higgins' life story would be fascinating even if he weren't Chile's greatest hero. Picarquín, Chile was the site of the 19th World Scout Jamboree, held in December 1998 and January 1999, which brought together 31,000 Scouts and Guides from all over the world. Today, he is revered as the liberator of Chile and the father of the nation. Like Simón Bolívar's epic 1819 crossing of the Andes, this expedition was very harsh. A reformer and an idealist, he was the first national leader in the Americas to abolish black slavery. Appointed ‘supreme director’ of Chile, he declared independence in 1818 but resigned in 1823. Ambrosio formally recognized his son in 1801 on his deathbed, and Bernardo suddenly found himself the owner of a prosperous estate in Chile. Many of Carrera's soldiers, suffering in the cold without food, deserted. Because of it secret organization property, Lautaro logia helped to establish a connection between Chilean and O'Higgins was a liberal who promoted education and equality and curtailed the privileges of the wealthy. Bernardo O'Higgins. Biography of José Francisco de San Martín, Latin American Liberator, What Is a Military Dictatorship? He did not make it home, as he died of heart trouble while en route on October 24, 1842. His father, Ambrose, was elected Prime Minister of Chile in 1788, paving the way for his son to become an important figure in Chile's history. It was named after the nation’s first president, Bernardo O’Higgins. He was joined by the Carrera brothers, who immediately began jockeying for position in the exile camp. Add Bust of Bernardo O'Higgins Houston to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media. When San Martín defeated the Spanish last-gasp attack at the Battle of Maipu on April 5, 1818, the rebel victory was complete. Chile is about twice the size of Montana. O'Higgins, Bernardo (1778–1842) South American revolutionary leader and ruler of Chile. The illegitimate son of a noble Irish emigreé, O’Higgins became the Chilean republic’s first supreme director. In the 1818 Chilean War of Independence, O’Higgins Riquelme and José de San Martín freed Chile from Spanish rule. By September 1818, most Spanish and royalist forces had retreated to try to defend Peru, the last Spanish stronghold on the continent. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Not openly acknowledged by his father, Bernardo was brought up by foster parents in Chile, then educated at the San Carlos College, Lima, and finally sent to England, where he became imbued with liberal ideas and converted to Francisco de Miranda's projects for the independence of the Spanish colonies. He was the illegitimate son of Ambrose O'Higgins, an ambitious Irishman employed in the Spanish colonial service and Isabel Riquelme, a member of a wealthy family of Spanish colonists. Bernardo left for Peru to attend college, later travelling to … Understand []. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. The second major town is San Fernando. He was in many ways as unlike Simón Bolivar as it is possible to be: Bolívar had much more in common with the dashing, confident José Miguel Carrera. O'Higgins was a man of simple and upright character and liberal principles. By 1788 Don Ambrosio, as Bernardo's father was known, had been appointed Governor-General of Chile. Argentina's independence leader, José de San Martín, supported O'Higgins, and the Carrera brothers were arrested. View Videos or join the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region discussion. Baron O'Higgins. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of the founding fathers of Chile. Bernardo O'Higgins (August 20, 1778–October 24, 1842) was a Chilean landowner, general, president, and one of the leaders of its struggle for independence. The main thoroughfare of the Chilean capital, Santiago, is Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins. Our members favorite in Magallanes is Marinelli Glacier and … Not long after Chillán, Carrera, O'Higgins, and their men were ambushed at a site called El Roble. He is revered as the Liberator of his country. O'Higgins, always modest, argued against the move, saying that a change of high command was a bad idea, but the junta had decided: O'Higgins would lead the army. Carrera was more dashing, outspoken, and charismatic, while O'Higgins was more circumspect, brave, and pragmatic. Definition and Examples, Biography of Simon Bolivar, 'Liberator of South America', How Latin America Gained Independence from Spain, Chile's Independence Day: September 18, 1810, Biography of Antonio Maceo, Hero of Cuban Independence, The Complete Story of Venezuela's Revolution for Independence, Biography of Francisco de Miranda, Venezuelan Leader, The Federal Republic of Central America (1823-1840), Simón Bolívar's epic 1819 crossing of the Andes. The ruling junta in Santiago had seen enough of Carrera after his fiasco at Chillán and his cowardice at El Roble and made O'Higgins commander of the army. He believed that Chile needed a strong leader to implement change and control simmering royalist sentiment. He remembered only too well the costly feuding between himself and the Carreras and how a lack of unity had almost cost Chile its independence. View Videos or join the Bust of Bernardo O'Higgins Houston discussion. Rider (s):Bernardo O'Higgins (1778–1842) was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martin, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean … His valor and patriotism, and his decision to surrender power rather than use it dictatorially, have assured him the foremost place in his country's history. There is a ceremony at the bust attended by the Chilean ambassador and other diplomatic luminaries every year. As a result of growing opposition and rival factions within his government, he was removed from office in 1823. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. Defeated in 1814, he joined José de San Martín in Argentina to defeat the Spanish at Chacabuco (1817). He went out in dramatic fashion, baring his chest to the assembled politicians and leaders who had turned against him and inviting them to take their bloody revenge. The junta was soon overthrown by José Miguel Carrera, a charismatic young Chilean aristocrat who had distinguished himself in the Spanish army in Europe before deciding to join the rebel cause. The official and unusual name for the Chilean soccer team is the “O’Higgins a Patriot of Chilean Rule.” Chile is the longest country in the world from north to south Chile is the longest country in the world from north to south at 2,647 miles (4,620 km) long and extends across 38 degrees of latitude. He hand-picked a Senate and the 1822 Constitution allowed representatives to be elected to a toothless legislative body. He abolished all noble titles, even though there were few in Chile. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. His finance minister José Antonio Rodríguez Aldea was revealed to be corrupt, using the office for personal gain. Bernardo O'Higgins was an unlikely hero. The Chilean soldier and statesman Bernardo O'Higgins (1778-1842) became a leading figure in the movement for emancipation from Spain and the first head of an independent Chilean Republic. Bernardo O'Higgins (August 20, 1778–October 24, 1842) was a Chilean landowner, general, president, and one of the leaders of its struggle for independence. Under O'Higgins, Chile remained active in the liberation of South America, often sending reinforcements and supplies to San Martín and Simon Bolívar, then fighting in Peru. In July 1811, Rozas stepped down and was replaced by a moderate junta. Another Carrera brother, Juan José, was trapped in the city. He was appointed to the governing body as the representative of his region. Leo War Hero #23. He then assumed the name of O'Higgins and made his home with his mother and half sister Rosita. Illegitimate son of Ambrose O'Higgins, the Irish Viceroy of Spanish Peru, Bernardo lived his childhood in neglect and poverty before inheriting a large estate. He was brave, honest, forgiving, and dedicated to the cause of liberty. ), Gaelic Baron of Ballynary, who was married to a daughter of the royal family of O'Conor at Ballintuber Castle in Connacht. Bernardo O’Higgins (20 august 24 1778-oktober 1842) var en chilensk godsejer, generelt, formand, og en af lederne af sin kamp for selvstændighed. He met Bolívar and offered his services, but when he was offered only a ceremonial position, he returned home. The Chilean soldier and statesman Bernardo O'Higgins (1778-1842) became a leading figure in the movement for emancipation from Spain and the first head of an independent Chilean Republic. Along with José de San Martín, he is credited with liberating Chile from Spanish rule. By 1822, hostility to O'Higgins had reached a crucial point. O'Higgins and Carrera would have a tempestuous, complicated relationship for the duration of the struggle. Forced to retreat northward before the Spaniards, O'Higgins made a heroic stand at Rancagua and then withdrew with the remnants of the patriot army across the Andes into Argentina. Carrera fled the battlefield, but O'Higgins remained despite a bullet wound in his leg. O'Higgins was a de facto dictator. Bernardo O’Higgins was the son of Irish-Spanish nobleman Ambrosio O’Higgins, who was Viceroy of … O'Higgins bravely moved his men into the city to reinforce Juan José in spite of the approaching army, which far outnumbered the rebels in the city. They were executed in Mendoza. O'Higgins' support began to erode quickly. Bernardo O'Higgins was born on August 20, 1778. As noted in his San Martín turned his attention to Peru, leaving O'Higgins in charge of Chile as a virtual dictator. O’Higgins, in full Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins, región, central Chile, bordered by Argentina to the east and facing the Pacific Ocean on the west. General José María de la Cruz claimed that O'Higgins' peaceful departure from power avoided a good deal of bloodshed and said, "O'Higgins was greater in those hours than he had been in the most glorious days of his life.". After a couple of years in Spain, where he lived in poverty and the disfavor of his father (who, however, relented on his deathbed and left him an estate near Concepción), he returned to Chile in 1802. José Miguel, O'Higgins' greatest enemy, spent the years from 1817 to 1821 in southern Argentina with a small army, raiding towns in the name of gathering funds and weapons for liberation. The defeat could have been avoided had Luís Carrera's army returned, but it did not—under orders from José Miguel. He made many improvements to the military, establishing different branches of service, including a Navy to be led by the Scotsman Lord Thomas Cochrane. The opposition to O'Higgins gravitated towards General Ramón Freile as a leader, himself a hero of the Independence wars, if not a hero of O'Higgins' stature. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/bernardo-ohiggins-2136599. Bernardo was ingenious and dignified, not particularly ambitious nor an especially dazzling general or strategist. The Spanish crossed the river and drove off a rebel force under Luís Carrera (brother of José Miguel). Biography of Bernardo O'Higgins, Liberator of Chile. Carrera was forced to lift the siege on August 10, admitting that he could not take the city. Like many heroes, most of O'Higgins' failings have been forgotten and his successes are exaggerated and celebrated in Chile. Get Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region essential facts below. Therefore, he raised an army. He did not back down from fights, even those he could not win. Bernardo O’Higgins (20 agosto, 24 1778-ottobre 1842) è stato un proprietario terriero cilena, generale, presidente, e uno dei leader della sua lotta per l’indipendenza. Bernardo O'Higgins and the Lautaro logia Lautaro logia in Chile Initiation It was imposed in Santiago, Chile after the triumph of the patriots in the Chacabuco battle. His plan was to cross the Andes, liberate Chile, and then march on Peru. Provinces of the region Popularity. Although he had no formal military training, O'Higgins took charge of the ragged rebel army and fought the Spanish from 1810 to 1818, when Chile achieved its independence. The dictator of Chile’s first independent government and a brilliant soldier, Bernardo O’Higgins led the Chilean patriots in their battle for independence. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/bernardo-ohiggins-2136599. Bernardo O'Higgins, who was the great hero of Chilean independence, lived in Richmond where he had part of his education. He returned to Chile and took possession of his inheritance, and for a few years he lived quietly in obscurity. He had angered the elite by taking away their noble titles and, in some cases, their lands. O'Higgins had always been a somewhat simple man and a reluctant general, hero, and president, and he happily settled into his life as a landowner. It is located in the commune of Mostazal, in the northern portion of the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region. This struck me as odd. When O'Higgins returned, the general population was ready. Born in 1778 #7. It has three provinces. Along with José de San Martín, he is credited with liberating Chile from Spanish rule. The capital of the region is Rancagua. Minster, Christopher. In September 1814, Spanish General Mariano Osorio was moving a large force of royalists into position to take Santiago and end the rebellion. The VI Region of O'Higgins (Spanish: VI Región del Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins) is one of the fifteen regions of Chile. For practical reasons I have chosen one of them (the one in Arica) as the original one and the others … Continue reading "O’Higgins, Bernardo" He was finally executed after being captured, ending the long-standing and bitter O'Higgins-Carrera feud. Bernardo was the illegitimate child of Ambrosio O'Higgins, a Spanish officer born in Ireland who immigrated to South America and rose through the ranks of the Spanish bureaucracy, eventually reaching the high post of Viceroy of Peru. A member of the revolutionary junta in colonial Chile, O'Higgins commanded the army against the Spanish. Leading citizens who had repeatedly supported the royalist cause saw their lands taken away if they had left Chile and they were heavily taxed if they remained. While there, Bernardo was tutored by legendary Venezuelan Revolutionary Francisco de Miranda. He went into exile in Peruin 1823, dying there in 1842. Bernardo O'Higgins was born in Chillán, the illegitimate son of Isabel Riquelme, daughter of a Chilean landowner. O’Higgins ruled the country for six years after having been granted dictatorial powers. As a young man, he went to England, where he lived on a small allowance that his father sent him. Bernardo only met his father once (and at that time he did not know who he was) and spent most of his early life with his mother and traveling. During his final years, O'Higgins acted as an unofficial ambassador from Chile to Peru, although he never did return to Chile. Intending to go into exile in Ireland, O'Higgins made a stop in Peru, where he was warmly welcomed and given a large estate. Bernardo OHiggins. This power dynamic would not last, however. For the next 6 years O'Higgins was engaged in campaigns to clear the Spaniards out of Chile and in efforts to build up an expeditionary force and fleet for the invasion of Peru. Print Collector / Contributor / Getty Images. Minster, Christopher. O'Higgins threw himself into the struggle for emancipation which was then beginning in Chile. O’Higgins was born on … For background see Simon Collier, Ideas and Politics of Chilean Independence, 1808-1833 (1968). He lived there quietly with his mother and half sister, on the estate given him in recognition of his services for the liberation of Peru, until his death in 1842. Realizing that the choice now lay between continuing to rule by force as a dictator or to resign office, O'Higgins chose the latter course and left for exile in Peru (1823). O'Higgins and thousands of other Chilean rebels made the weary trek into Argentina and exile. His remains lie in a monument called "The Altar of the Fatherland." O'Higgins further alienated the church by allowing Protestantism into the new nation and by reserving the right to meddle in church appointments. O'Higgins turned the tide of the battle and emerged a national hero. They laid siege to the city in July of 1813, in the middle of the harsh Chilean winter. His mother Isabel Riquelme was the daughter of a prominent local, and he was raised with her family. Most Popular #138435. 26 Chilean army personnel and 10 maintenance workers at Chile’s Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme base in Antarctica have tested positive for the virus. The massive royalist force eventually drove the rebels out of the city. He is commemorated by a magnificent bust in a lovely riverside location by Richmond Bridge. First Name Bernardo #10. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme. He was a strong personality when his nation needed guidance, yet by most accounts, he did not overly repress the people or use his power for personal gain. Nevertheless, O'Higgins had many positive qualities that were not always apparent. Travelers are voting Grey Glacier, Bruggen Glacier and Tyndall Glacier as the best of 7 glaciers in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. It is composed of three stripes with the colors of the Chilean flag, it is sewn by hand … Bernardo O’Higgins : biography August 20, 1778 – October 24, 1842 Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme (1778–1842) was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. "Biography of Bernardo O'Higgins, Liberator of Chile." Bernardo O’Higgins (1778–1842) So great was the cultural influence of the Irish in Chile that a man of Irish decent became the leader of the Chilean independence movement. O'Higgins was born on August 20, 1778 to an Irish father and a Spanish mother. Though O'Higgins worked hard to organize the country on liberal lines, public discontent increased as a result of the strain of the war, economic prostration, and the increasingly autocratic measures O'Higgins's government felt obliged to take. Get Bust of Bernardo O'Higgins Houston essential facts below. The Spanish were defeated in The Battle of the Andes by Argentine liberator José de San Martín and a man with a very unusual name – Bernardo O’Higgins. Its Ballynary line is descended from Shean Duff O'Higgins ( fl. 1600 C.E. The patriots could not completely dislodge the royalists. When it became apparent that the actions of Chile would lead to war, he raised two cavalry regiments and an infantry militia, mostly recruited from families who worked his lands. During the early years of the struggle, O'Higgins was generally subordinate to Carrera and dutifully followed his orders as best he could. He changed the tax code and did much to encourage commerce, including the completion of the Maipo Canal. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the ​Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. There is also the Bernado O’Higgins National Park in Chile.http://www.bluegreenadventures.com/BernardoHiggins.html. Slavery was abolished in 1823, long before most other Latin American countries. Meanwhile, O'Higgins had distinguished himself as a cavalry commander. Since 1974 it has comprised the provinces of Cachapoal, Cardenal Caro, and Colchagua. Bernardo O'Higgins. ThoughtCo. Puerto Natales is a town in Chile, the gateway to Trekking in Torres del Paine or Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks.It offers good infrastructure, especially a few trekking shops (although you'd do better to get your gear in Punta Arenas) and not-so-cheap supermarkets.. At first, he had no serious opposition: Juan José and Luis Carrera had been captured attempting to infiltrate the rebel army. All Rights Reserved. San Martín and O'Higgins lost some men in the crossing, although their sound planning meant that most soldiers survived. There are probably only a few reasons to be in this town. As he had no training, he learned how to use weapons from veteran soldiers. There he joined the forces under the command of Gen. José de San Martín, returning to Chile with him in 1817 to win the battle of Chacabuco and to become the first head (director supremo) of an independent Chile. O'Higgins was his choice as the man to lead Chile's liberation. The Bishop of Santiago, the royalist-leaning Santiago Rodríguez Zorrilla, was exiled to Mendoza. He was a bastard for most of his early life, unrecognized by his father, who was a devout supporter of the king. San Martín began working with Chilean patriots to organize the liberation of Chile. O'Higgins was an important supporter of the September 18 movement in Chile, which began the nations' struggle for independence. This prevented unnecessary bloodshed among rebel forces, even if it did mean repeatedly allowing the hot-headed Carrera back into power. A clever ruse had sent the Spanish scrambling to defend the wrong passes and the army arrived in Chile unopposed. In the north is the driest place on Earth, the Atacama Desert, and in the center is a 700-mile-long (1,127 km) thickly populated valley with most of Chile's arable land. You can find 14 glaciers in Magallanes and 26 glaciers in the country of Chile. Although O'Higgins and the rebels fought very bravely, the result was predictable. The siege was a disaster for the rebels. O'Higgins (Irish: Ó hUiginn) is an Irish noble family. Minster, Christopher. photographers unknown It is unclear which of the five statues of Bernardo O’Higgins by the sculptor José Caroca Laflor that I found in Chile (in Arica, Chillan, Iquique, Talca and Temuco) is the original one. Instead, all present cheered for him and escorted him to his home. There is a voluminous literature in Spanish on O'Higgins by Chilean historians and a full study in English by Stephen Clissold, Bernardo O'Higgins and the Independence of Chile (1969). Juan Martínez de Rozas was president and O'Higgins supported him, but Rozas was accused of corruption and criticized for sending valuable troops and resources to Argentina to help the independence movement there. After a series of skirmishes and small battles against the Spanish and royalist forces from 1811–1813, O'Higgins, Carrera, and other rebel generals chased the royalist army into the city of Chillán.

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