Edelmiro Mayer

Early life

Mayer entered the world in Buenos Aires in 1834, the child of a Hungarian typographer father and a Spanish mother. When he turned eighteen, his whole family moved to New York City, where they lived until 1858.

After returning to Argentina, he joined the State of Buenos Aires army and participated in the battles of Cepeda and Pavón against the Argentine Confederation. He achieved the ranks of captain and later mayor. Following a dispute between his superiors, Generals Wenceslao Paunero and Bartolomé Mitre, over promotions, Mayer resigned from the army and went back to the United States in late 1861, where his uncle owned a store.

American Civil War

Mayer worked for his uncle but quickly left commerce to become a military instructor at West Point. There he became friends with Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son. He left the academy to work in the law office of Abraham Lincoln.

During the early civil war, he supported abolitionism and wrote several articles for Harper's Magazine that highlighted the contributions of African slaves' descendants in the South American wars for independence. He helped create a number of colored regiments. In July 1863 he joined the Union Army as a captain.

Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he fought with distinction at Chattanooga, Olustee, and the Siege of Petersburg, commanding the 45th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment. When Lincoln was assassinated, Mayer and his men were at a party with Robert Lincoln. He attended Abraham Lincoln's funeral and comforted his friend and the family.

Return to Argentina

Mayer returned to Argentina in 1873 after a long journey through the United States (where he met Cuban patriot José Martí), Mexico, and Britain. Carlos Tejedor, governor of Buenos Aires province, recognized his rank of general.

In 1875 he commanded rebel artillery during an uprising against the federal government led by President Nicolás Avellaneda. After the revolt was put down, Mayer was forced to resign from the army. He then became a successful writer, publishing works about his military experiences, translations of Edgar Allan Poe, and a musical dictionary in 1888 that contains one of the first definitions of tango as a music genre.

Governor of Santa Cruz

After a number of bad investments in shore facilities and railways, Mayer bought a ranch in Santa Cruz, a federal territory in Patagonia. His influence and experience led President Carlos Pellegrini to appoint him governor in 1893 after the resignation of Ramón Lista. Mayer played a key role in populating Santa Cruz. His policy was to expand settlements westward, close to the Andes, to prevent overpopulation of the coast.

He promoted the animal fats industry, ship management, and brick manufacturing. During his time in office, several scientific expeditions were carried out through the territory led by Carlos Burmeister, Otto Nordenskjöld, Clemente Onelli, and Carlos Ameghino. Mayer died suddenly while working at his office in Río Gallegos on 4 January 1897.

French intervention in Mexico

From the United States, Mayer went to Mexico and became a general in Benito Juárez's army. Some of his subordinates regarded him as a "gringo." He killed his second in command in a pistol duel. After he saved the life of French-appointed General Leonardo Márquez following the siege of Querétaro in 1867, Mayer was sentenced to execution by firing squad for treason. His life was spared through the intervention of former President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who was then Argentina's ambassador to the United States.