Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (August 20, 1778 – October 24, 1842), South American independence leader, was one of the commanders – together with Jose de San Martin – of the military forces that freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the third Supreme Director of Chile (1817–23), O'Higgins was the first holder of this title to head a fully independent Chilean state.

Early life

O'Higgins was born in Chillan, Chile. As noted in his certificate of baptism, he was the illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno, a Spanish officer from County Sligo in Ireland, who became governor of Chile and later viceroy of Peru. His mother was Isabel Riquelme y Meza, a prominent lady of a noble family in Chillan. O'Higgins spent his early years with his mother's family in Central-south Chile. 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. Spanish government officials in America were forbidden to marry localsCrow, 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.

As Ambrose O'Higgins became Viceroy of Peru, young Bernardo was sent to London to complete his studies. There, Bernardo became acquainted with American-independist ideas: he knew Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda and joined the Masonic Logia Lautaro.

Role in the Chilean Independence and Government

In 1810, he joined the nationalist rebels fighting for independence from Spain. In 1814, his Chilean rebels were defeated by the Spanish and retreated into the Andes. In 1817, O'Higgins went back on the offensive with the aid of Argentine General Jose de San Martin. On February 12, 1817, he led a cavalry charge that won the Battle of Chacabuco. He became the first leader of independent Chile, and was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director on February 16, 1817. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic.

His six-year rule saw the founding of the Military Academy and the approval of the new (and current) Chilean flag. However, his more radical and liberal reforms, (such as the establishment of democracy and abolition of nobility titles) were resisted by the powerful conservative large-land owners. During his government, he founded the cities of La Union and Vicuna. From his later exile in Peru, he promoted the Chilean expansion southward, concluding in the foundation of Punta Arenas in 1845. Also, his government was involved - presumably under the pressure of the Lautaro Lodge - in the killing of adversary independist leaders Jose Miguel Carrera, his brothers Juan Jose and Luis in Argentina, and Carreras' friend and guerrilla leader Manuel Rodriguez. He was deposed by a conservative coup on January 28, 1823.

During his government, he also assisted Jose de San Martin to organize the Expedition and an Army and Navy to support the Independence of Peru. He also organized the Chilean Army and the first Chilean Navy, under the command of Lord Cochrane and Manuel Blanco Encalada.

Death and legacy

After his deposition, O'Higgins spent the rest of his life in exile, and died in Lima, Peru in 1842.

After his death, his remains were repatriated to Chile in 1869; moved in 1979 from the Military School to a place of honor in the Altar de la Patria's mausoleum in front of the Palacio de La Moneda government palace; and then back again temporarily to the Military School, in 2004, for a year, during transformation of the Altar de la Patria into the new Plaza de la Ciudadania (Citizens' Square). The Chilean village of Villa O'Higgins was named in his honor.

There is a statue of O'Higgins in Richmond, in south-west London in a square named after him, O'Higgins Square, and a blue plaque was erected in his honour at Clarence House in Richmond, the house at 2 The Vineyard in which he lived while studying in London. A plaque has also been erected in Cadiz, Spain in the Plaza de Candalaria, where he resided for four years.

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 at Central Railway Station on Elizabeth St in Sydney, Australia.

Additional information

References

External links

Web Blog of Respetable Lodge Bernardo O'Higgins # 392 - Of Free and Acepted Masones of the Argentina, Argentine Freemasonery
Sepulveda, Alfredo: Bernardo O'Higgins: The Rebel Son of a Viceroy
Bernardo O'Higgins website
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Chilean-heads-of-state
Irish-Chileans
People-of-the-Chilean-War-of-Independence
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