José Miguel Carrera
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José Miguel Carrera | |
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President of the First Chilean Governing Council | |
In office November 16, 1811 – October 2, 1814 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Santiago, Chile | October 15, 1785
Died | September 4, 1821 Mendoza, Argentina | (aged 35)
Spouse | Mercedes Fontecilla |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Battles/wars | |
José Miguel Carrera Verdugo (Latin American Spanish:
Early years
José Miguel Carrera was of
After school he was sent to Spain by his parents. There he joined the Spanish Army in 1808. He fought against the Napoleonic forces, obtaining the rank of Sergeant Major and receiving the command of the Húsares de Galicia regiment.
In Spain he also made contact with the United States independence movement and joined the
La Patria Vieja ("Old Republic") (1810–1814)
When he learned about the Junta de Gobierno that had been established in Chile to rule during the absence of the Spanish monarch, he went back to Chile and got involved in politics. As the Carreras were one of the three major political forces, he became part of the government. On 15 November 1811 the Carreras made a coup d'état and José Miguel became the sole ruler of Chile (his brothers were military commanders). Because of his more personal and Chilean-national point of view about Chilean independence, Carrera came into conflict with the Lautaro Lodge, whose more Latin-Americanist centered objective was to unite all Latin America in the same way as the United States of America.
During his government, he helped create several Chilean national symbols and institutions: Carrera created the first Chilean Constitution, made the first Chilean flag and coat of arms, and promoted the press by bringing the first printing press to Chile, which directly led to the appearance of the first newspaper in Chile: La Aurora de Chile. Carrera also established September 18 as the national day of Independence (which is still celebrated in Chile), even though the real independence date is on February 12 of 1818. He also abolished slavery, rescinded the clergy's right to legal immunity, and founded the first state-sponsored school in Chile, the
As the Spanish Army and Navy invaded the South of Chile, he became Commander in Chief of the patriotic forces and left the government. He had a successful campaign, expelling the Spaniards from the city of Concepción.
After the
Bernardo O'Higgins did not acknowledge Carrera and fought against the Carrera's army at the
Argentina and the United States
With the defeat of the Chilean forces, many patriots escaped to Mendoza, which was governed at the time by José de San Martín. As San Martín was a member of the Lautaro Lodge, he welcomed O'Higgins and his allies. After committing acts of vandalism José Miguel and his brothers were arrested and sent to Buenos Aires, where Carlos María de Alvear, a friend of Carrera since the war against Napoleon in Spain, had just been proclaimed national hero. Alvear would shortly go on to take power in Argentina.
While Alvear was in government, Carrera was in a good position in Buenos Aires. But after Alvear was overthrown, power was taken by members of the Lautaro Lodge,[citation needed] forcing Carrera to leave Buenos Aires for the United States. With the help of Commodore David Porter, and by sheer force of personality, José Miguel Carrera managed to obtain—on credit—four ships with American crews for the Chilean independence enterprise.[3]
However, as he arrived in Buenos Aires with this fleet, the pro-San Martin Argentine government confiscated the ships and put Carrera in prison. During his imprisonment, San Martín organized an army in Mendoza. This group crossed the Andes and defeated the Spaniards in the Battle of Chacabuco, on 12 February 1817.
Carrera received help from the United States' envoy who came with him,
Subsequently, Jose Miguel Carrera was one of the main promoters of the Argentine federalist
As a result of this treaty, Carrera received money and troops, with which he marched towards Chile. One of Carrera's main ally before his death was the
. However, he was intercepted in Mendoza and taken prisoner.Trial and execution
After being judged by his enemies on a show trial,[citation needed], Carrera was executed by a firing squad on 4 September 1821.
Warrior
Carrera entered the military career, in Chile, as a mere boy at the age of six. At the age of 22 (1808) he entered the
On his return to Chile he led his men in some 10 battles and/or armed engagements against the Spanish Army. Later, following his trip to the US, and in his attempt to return to Chile, from Argentina, he and his men fought the Argentine in a series or armed confrontations and battles some of which were particularly cruel and bloody. Notable in his Argentine campaign was the Battle of Rio Cuarto. In all, Carrera participated in combat in some 40 separate occasions.
Legacy
Carrera is today considered one of the Chileans Padres de la Patria (Fathers of the Nation).[citation needed] The conflict between followers of O'Higgins and Carrera continues to some extent to this day, when many declare themselves Carreristas or O'Higginistas. Carreristas claim that his figure is not given enough recognition, in comparison with O'Higgins, whom they openly despise.
Apart from ending slavery in Chile, Carrera abolished the titled nobility and ended their legal prerogatives and privileges. He also founded the first free newspaper in the nation, La Aurora de Chile; instituted the first national flag and national seal; and founded the first free secular school, which eventually became known as the Instituto Nacional, its full name being Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera; several Chilean presidents and dozens of senators and parliamentarians have graduated from its halls.
In the Patagonian region in the south of Chile, there is the General Carrera Lake.
All five of Carrera's legitimate offspring married prominently in Chilean society, and their descendants, who number in the few hundred, make up the bulk of the Chilean upper classes[citation needed].
His prominent descendants include:
- Ignacio Carrera Pinto, his grandson, a hero who died during the Battle of La Concepción, in the War of the Pacific.
- Federico Santa María Technical University, one of the best technical and engineering schools in Chile.
In popular culture
The life of José Miguel Carrera is shown through the television project Heroes. The series include 6 related movies about Chilean Founding Fathers and Heroes, and in it, José Miguel Carrera was portrayed by Diego Casanueva.[citation needed]
See also
- Anti-Chilean sentiment
- History of Chile
- Government Junta of Chile (November 1811)
- Aurora de Chile
- Carrera family
- Manuel Rodríguez
- September 1811 Chilean coup d'etat
References
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ "Conciencia de un Legado (Conscience of a Legacy)". El Mercurio. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- ^ Long, David, "Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1783–1843,” Chapter 7
Sources
- Barros Arana, Diego (1855). Historia Jeneral de la Independencia de Chile (in Spanish). Vol. I–IV. Santiago: Imprenta del Ferrocarril.
- Gay, Claudio (1856). Historia de la Independencia Chilena(in Spanish). Vol. I & II. Paris: Imprenta de E. Thunot y Cia.
- Pilleux Cepeda, Mauricio. "Recopilación de Genealogia Chilena" (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- Vicuña Mackenna, Benjamín (1857). El Ostracismo de los Carreras (in Spanish). Santiago: Imprenta del Ferrocarril. pp. 553.
- Zapiola, José (1872–1876). Recuerdos de treinta años (1810–1840) (in Spanish). Vol. I & II. Santiago: Imprenta de El Independiente. p. 310.
- "José Miguel Carrera Verdugo". La Aurora de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 October 2008.
- "José Miguel Carrera". Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas José Miguel Carrera (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2004-08-21. Retrieved 15 October 2008.