Bolivar, Simon

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

bol'i-var, Simon (1738-1830), a Venezuelan patriot, soldier, and statesman. He came of excellent Spanish ancestry. He was born at Caracas. He studied in Spain, resided in Paris, married in Madrid, and settled down in his native South American home. He had studied the French Revolution at first hand in Paris, the Spanish aristocracy at first hand in Madrid, and was well read in the history of the American Revolution. The countries of the Andes from the Caribbean Sea to the Strait of Magellan were in the possession of Spain, and were managed for the benefit of the home country. Bolivar threw himself into a secret movement to foment revolution. July 5, 1811, Venezuela declared its independence and Bolivar was made commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army. For ten years the tide of war raised him to the pinnacle of success or left him in the depths of despair. He won notable victories and suffered defeats that would have crushed an ordinary man. Five times he was obliged to fly the country and five times he returned to reorganize the opposition. In 1821 he was made president of the new republic. Not satisfied with the independence of his native land, he aided Peru and Ecuador with men, money, and personal presence, until in 1824 the power of Spain in the northern Andes ceased. When the provinces of upper Peru organized as an independent country they took the name of Bolivia in commemoration of his services. Bolivar died young, only forty-seven, but full of honor. In South America he is called the Great Liberator. His statue stands in the public square of each large city that children may ask who he was and learn what he did for his country. 2026 Editor's Note: Bolívar — "El Libertador" — freed six nations from Spain, and Bolivia is named for him. His memory is still actively fought over: Hugo Chávez renamed Venezuela the "Bolivarian Republic," claimed his mantle, and had the Liberator's remains exhumed in 2010 to test a theory that he had been poisoned. (The entry's birth year of 1738 is a slip for 1783.) (Ed: BR 2026-06-10)