San Martin

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

JOSÉ DE, a Spanish- American general; born in Yapeyu, Misiones, Argentine Republic, Feb. 25, 1778. He was in the Spanish campaigns against France from 1793 till 1811, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He resigned from service and sailed for Buenos Ayres in 1812, where he joined the patriot iot army. In the following year he was placed in command of their forces, serving in upper Peru or Bolivia. He opened a line of operations through Chile, abandoning the previous plan of attacking the Spanish forces in Peru by way of Chuquisaca and Lake Titicaca. San Martin was supported by the supreme director, Pueyrredon, in his purpose. An army of invasion drilled for two years at Menwas doza, and then San Martin in command of 4,000 men began, Jan. 17, 1817, his famous march over the Andes, leading his force through the Nepallata Pass, 12,800 feet high. On Feb. 12, 1817, he gained the victory of Chacobuco, which apture and occиpawas followed by the capture tion of Santiago, Feb. 15. He was defeated on March 19, 1818, at Cancha Rayada, but gained a splendid victory on April 5 at the Maipo, which drove the Spaniards from Chile. He was offered the supreme directorship of Chile, but declined it and began preparations for the invasion of Peru. He organized a navy, and his small force of 4,500 men sailed for the Peruvian coast. After much adventurous maneuvering, this army captured and occupied Lima, July 9, 1821, and carried Callão through hard fighting soon after. On Aug. 3, San Martin was proclaimed supreme protector of Peru. At this time Bolivar was leading an army S., and the success of the patriots was threatened by civil war. San Martin gave way to his rival, "for the good of the cause,' ," so averting a contest which might have destroyed the country's independence. On July 26, 1822, he held an interview with Bolivar, after which he resigned his office to the Peruvian Congress, Sept. 22, leaving Bolivar to complete the independence of Peru. San Martin retired from South American affairs, went to France and lived there in reduced circumstances till his death in Boulogne, France, Aug. 17, 1850.