Bernardo O'Higgins

Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme was born in Chillan in central Chile. The bastard son of Ambrosio, Marquis de Orsorno, his Irish-born father hailed from County Sligo. Bernardo’s mother was Isabel Riquelme. She was from a prominent South American family. Bernardo was supported financially after the father became a Peruvian viceroy. Bernardo was sent to London while a young boy where he was able to acquire a formal education. He soon learned to despise Spanish domination. Bernardo sought to fight for independence from Spain. His homeland should not be a colonial domain. He would share the same ideas as Francisco de Miranda. This man hailed from the north in Venezuela. Both men espoused the prospective idea of a free and independent South America. O’Higgins joined the Logia Lautaro in 1810. He was helped by Argentine Jose de San Martin. In 1814, the rebels suffered a costly defeat. Into the Andes Mountains, the rebels had to retreat. This loss came at the Chilean city of Rancagua It started the period known as the “Reconquista” In 1817, the rebels won a great victory. The Battle of Chacabuco ended Spanish sovereignty. Chile and Argentina were both declared independent. Bernardo O’Higgins became Chile’s first president. Thanks to wikipedia.org online encyclopedia for pertinent information I obtained to write this presentation.