Why did chile want independence from spain
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Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (August 20, 1778 - October 24, 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. He is known as the "liberator of Chile." Other men had held the title of Supreme Director of Chile, but O'Higgins was the first who headed a fully independent Chilean state. His father had served as Governor of Chile and as Viceroy of Peru. Bernardo attended school in London, England. Returning to Chile, he joined the independence movement in 1810. After an initial defeat in 1814, he achieved victory at the Battle of Chacabuco in 1817, and was soon leader of the new nation of Chile. He was granted dictatorial powers with the title Supreme Director on February 16, 1817. He remained in office until 1823, when conservatives resisting his policies of democratization ousted him from power. Despite his wide-ranging powers, he was a convinced democrat. He abolished noble ranks and he sent forces to assist Peru's f
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By Linda Batchelor.
In 1799 Bernardo Riquelme, a young man in his early twenties, born in Chile and educated in England since 1794, was in Falmouth awaiting a voyage to Lisbon. The voyage to Lisbon was the first step in his ultimate return to Chile but with little money and uncertainty as to his future he left England in late April or early May.
Some years later in Chile as Bernardo O’Higgins he became known as the Liberator and revered for transforming Chile into a republic free from the rule of Spain. This article was prompted by a research enquiry to the Bartlett Library concerning this early part of Bernardo’s history, his journey to Falmouth from London and his voyage from Falmouth to Lisbon.
Bernardo O’Higgins
Bernardo was born in Chillan in southern Chile in 1778, the illegitimate or natural son of Ambrosio O’Higgins, a rising figure in the Spanish colonial administration, and Isabel Riquelme the daughter of a prominent local family. The liaison between Ambrosio and Isabel, who at eighteen was almost forty years his junior, resulted in a son but never led to marriage an
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Bernardo O'Higgins
Chilean independence leader (1778–1842)
Not to be confused with Bernard O'Higgins.
In this Chilean name, the first or paternal surname is O'Higgins and the second or maternal family name is Riquelme.
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (Spanish pronunciation:[beɾˈnaɾðooˈ(x)iɣins]ⓘ; 20 August 1778 – 24 October 1842) was a Chilean independence leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. He was a wealthy landowner of Basque-Spanish and Irish ancestry.[1] Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817–1823), he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder of this title to head a fully independent Chilean state.
He was Captain General of the Chilean Army, Brigadier of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, General Officer of Gran Colombia and Grand Marshal of Peru.
Early life
Bernardo O'Higgins, a member of the O'Higgins family, was born in the Chilean city of Chillán in 1778, the illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorn
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