Carlos María de Alvear
Carlos María de Alvear | |
---|---|
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata | |
In office 9 January 1815 – 18 April 1815 | |
Preceded by | Gervasio Antonio de Posadas |
Succeeded by | Third Triumvirate: José de San Martín Matías de Irigoyen Manuel de Sarratea |
Personal details | |
Born | Carlos Antonio del Santo Ángel Guardián de Alvear y Balbastro 25 October 1789 Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul |
Died | 3 November 1852 New York City, United States | (aged 63)
Resting place | La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires |
Nationality | Argentine |
Spouse | María del Carmen Sáenz de la Quintanilla |
Children | María Carlota Emilio Marcelo Camilio Urbelino Carlos F. Torcuato Antonio Joaquina del Carmen Virginia Mercedes Diego Juan Nepomuceno León Gabino |
Profession | Politician, soldier |
Carlos María de Alvear (October 25, 1789 in
Early life
He was born in
While travelling to Spain with his family on board a Spanish Navy squadron in 1804, a Royal Navy fleet attacked the squadron on 5 October, capturing or destroying all four of the Spanish frigates present. The battle was a preamble to the Anglo-Spanish War between the two countries; during the engagement, Alvears's brothers and mother were killed by stray cannon fire, though he survived the battle to be taken as a prisoner of war by the British along with his father to England. There, he would meet and marry an Irish woman.[citation needed]
Honouring his mother, Carlos de Alvear adopted the name of Carlos María de Alvear. During his stay in Britain, the 15-year-old Carlos was given an English-style education, adopting, in his adult age, what some would later see as a position amenable to British interests.[citation needed]
Like many other nineteenth century Argentines prominent in public life, he was a
Military career
Alvear was one of the few professional military officers to participate in the
He returned to
Alvear was a leader of the constituent
In early 1814, Alvear was appointed commander in chief of the forces defending the capital. A few months later, he replaced General
At the end of 1814 Alvear was named commander of the
Having neither the support of the troops nor sufficient influence on the people of the hinterland provinces, Director Alvear then attempted to come to an alliance with Artigas, to whom he offered the independence of the Banda Oriental (current Uruguay). In exchange, Artigas would withdraw his army from the Argentine Littoral. But Artigas declined the offer, and Alvear sent troops to occupy the area.
At this time he was in correspondence with the British ambassador,
Diplomatic missions to England, United States and Bolivia
Alvear returned to Argentina in 1822 thanks to an amnesty law (Ley del olvido). At the end of 1823,
War against the Empire of Brazil
To neutralize Alvear's political ambitions, newly elected
Fearing a Brazilian invasion of Argentine territory, in mid-1826, President Rivadavia appointed Alvear as commander in chief of the Argentine army, which was in mutiny. Alvear quickly restored discipline and put the troops in fighting condition. By the end of the year, after only three months on the job, he took the initiative and launched an invasion of the Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul. Among Alvear's objectives was to promote a slave rebellion which would force the Emperor to seek an armistice.
During the first months of 1827 Cisplatine War, the Argentine Army entered Brazilian territory and defeated the Brazilians at Bagé, Ombú, Camacuá and the great Battle of Ituzaingó, probably the most important victory of his career. It was his brilliant and fearless conduct during this campaign, and the memorable victory which ended it, that made controversial Alvear a national hero among Argentine people ever since. However, internal dissensions in Argentina and the signing of what was perceived to be a humiliating peace treaty brought down Rivadavia's presidency. Without any political backing or support from Buenos Aires. Alvear tendered his resignation and returned to Buenos Aires. When he arrived in the capital, he realized he had been removed by the new government, which did everything possible to discredit him and Rivadavia.
Alvear and Rosas
In 1829 Juan Manuel de Rosas appeared in the Argentine political scene, inaugurating a controversial regime that on and off would last almost 23 years. Alvear was one of the leaders of the opposition and, in 1832, Rosas appointed him ambassador to the United States, as a way of neutralizing his political ambitions. A change in government the following year allowed Alvear to remain in Buenos Aires. However, when Rosas returned to power in 1835, he again tried to get rid of Alvear, who he suspected was conspiring against his government.
Argentina's first ambassador to the United States
In early 1837, after discovering evidence that linked Alvear to a new conspiracy, Rosas appointed him Argentina's first minister plenipotentiary to the United States. However, he was only able to depart the following year. Alvear spent the rest of his life as ambassador in the U.S. and died in his house in
Although he had been a lifelong admirer of the United States, after the annexation of Texas (1845) and the subsequent war with Mexico (1846–1848), Alvear became wary of American intentions towards Spanish America. According to his American biographer Thomas Davis, his diplomatic correspondence shaped Argentina's traditional distrust to U.S. policies, which Alvear felt included the desire to conquer, or at least dominate, all of Latin America.
Carlos María de Alvear was buried in La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.
Legacy
Bartolomé Mitre, author of the biography of San Martín Historia de San Martín y de la emancipación sudamericana, was very critical of Alvear, describing him as an ambitious and dictatorial. Most later historians reject Alvear as well, albeit for different reasons. Leftist authors support Monteagudo but reject Alvear, despite their political relation. Revisionist authors, supporters of anti-imperialism, condemn Alvear for the attempt to turn the United Provinces into a British protectorate and relate him with the party of Bernardino Rivadavia, despite them being enemies.[6]
References
- ^ Ione S. Wright and Lisa M. Nekhom, Historical Dictionary of Argentina (1978) pp 31–32
- Antonio Luis Beruti, Juan José Castelli, Domingo French, Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid, Francisco Narciso de Laprida , Juan Larrea, Juan Lavalle, Vicente López y Planes, Bartolomé Mitre, Mariano Moreno, Juan José Paso, Carlos Pellegrini, Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and Justo José de Urquiza; José de San Martín is known to have been a member of the Lautaro Lodge, but whether that lodge was truly masonic has been debated: Denslow, William R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Vol. 1–4. Richmond, VA: Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co Inc.
- ^ "Masones Ilustres Argentinos". Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ )
- OCLC 252520716.
- ^ Galasso, pp. 104-105
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-950-581-779-5.
- Alvear, Carlos Maria de, El general Alvear a propósito de las memorias del general Iriarte, Emece Editores, Buenos Aires, 1986.
- Carranza, Ángel J., Biografía del General don Carlos María de Alvear, Documento manuscrito, Colección Alvear, AGN, Buenos Aires.
- Comisión del Segundo Centenario del General Carlos María de Alvear, Emece Editores, Buenos Aires, 1989.
- Davis, Thomas B.: Carlos de Alvear, Man of Revolution. The Diplomatic Career of Argentina's First Minister to the United States. Durham, NC, Duke University Press, 1955
- Fernandez Lalanne, Pedro, Los Alvear, Emecé Editores, Buenos Aires, 1980.
- Ocampo, Emilio, Alvear en la Guerra con el Imperio de Brasil, Editorial Claridad, Buenos Aires, 2003.
- Rodríguez, Gregorio F., Historia de Alvear, Cía. Sudamericana de Billetes de Banco, 2 tomos, Buenos Aires, 1909
- Rodríguez, Gregorio F., Contribución Histórica y Documental, Buenos Aires, 3 tomos, Talleres “Casa Jacobo Peuser”, 1921.
- (in Spanish) Biography.
- (in Spanish) Alvear's letter to San Martín while in exile