José de San Martín
General who led South America's southern independence from Spain.
Last updated
Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 4.0
José de San Martín served as the Protector of Peru and is regarded as a national hero of Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Lore & Background
San Martín left the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata at age seven to study in Málaga, Spain.
Reader's Guide
San Martín is regarded as a national hero of Argentina, Chile, and Peru, a great military commander, and one of the Liberators of Spanish South America. His strategic crossing of the Andes and victories at Chacabuco and Maipú were pivotal in securing Chilean independence, while his appointment as Protector of Peru and the declaration of Peruvian independence marked a key step in ending Spanish rule in South America. The Order of the Liberator General San Martín, created in his honor, is the highest decoration conferred by the Argentine government. His legacy endures as a symbol of liberation and military leadership across the continent.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: José de San Martín (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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