José+de+San+Martín

=José de San Martin=

Early Life History
José de San Martín was an Argentine general who helped lead the southern part of South America to independence from Spain. He was born on February 25, 1778 in Argentina and died on August 17, 1850. When he was seven years old, San Martín moved to Spain for his education. He then lived there for the rest of his childhood.

Military History
After leading in the Peninsular War against France in 1808, San Martín made contact with the South American supporters of independence from Spain. He sailed to Buenos Aires in 1812 and planned to assist Argentina in its fight for independence. In 1814, he created a plan to defeat the Spanish forces in Argentina. In order to carry out the plan, San Martín had to establish a new army called the Army of the Andes, in Cuyo Province, Argentina. This army won the Battle of Chacabuco and the Battle of Maipú in 1818, liberating both Argentina and Chile from royalist Spanish control. His next target was Lima, Peru.

San Martín took control of Lima on July 21, 1821. Because of his heroic military actions in Lima, the people of Peru gave him the position of Protector of Peru. Seven days later, on July 28, 1821, Peru declared independence. After that, about a year later on July 22, 1822, San Martín held a meeting with one of his leading military partners, Simón Bolívar in Ecuador. San Martín gave Bolívar the task of completely liberating Peru. Afterwards, San Martín left Peru and turned over all control to Bolívar, including military and political control, and moved to France in 1824.

Legacy
San Martín and Bolívar are credited with being the heroes of Argentina and Peru, helping liberate Spanish South America. The Order of the Liberator General San Martín, which was created in his honor, is the highest honor anyone can receive from the Argentine government.

By: Zac Meyers