Fernando Baquedano
Encyclopedia
General Fernando Baquedano Rodríguez (May 28, 1796 – October 20, 1862) was a Chile
an military and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation
. Fernando Baquedano was of Basque
descent, his ascendants came from Abarzuza
.
Fernando Baquedano was born in Santiago
, the son of Miguel Baquedano y Zebreros and of Isidora Rodríguez Rojas. In 1808, at the age of 12, he joined the ranks of the Queen's dragoons. Baquedano took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning, and during the Chilean War of Independence he served under both José Miguel Carrera
and Bernardo O'Higgins
in the siege of Chillán, and the battles of El Roble, Quirihue and Cauquenes (1813), Gomero, Alto del Quilo, Paso del Maule, Tres Montes y Quechereguas (1814). After the defeat of Rancagua he was forced , together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza
, Argentina
.
Once there he joined the Army of the Andes, and fought in the battles of Chacabuco
and Talcahuano (1817), Cancha Rayada and Maipu
(1818). He married Teresa González de Labra y Ros on July 18, 1819, and together they had three sons, among them the future general Manuel Baquedano
. After the death of his first wife, he married for a second time on June 27, 1848, to Mercedes Concha Fuentealba, with whom he had another 6 children.
Between 1823 and 1824, Baquedano participated in the Peruvian War of Independence and later under General Ramón Freire in the capture of Chiloé
(1826) and all the campaigns between 1827 and 1829. During the Chilean Civil War of 1829 he served under the banners of General José Joaquín Prieto
, and fought at the battles of Ochagavía (1829) and Lircay (1830). During the War of the Confederation
, he fought under Manuel Bulnes
at the battles of Portada de Guías (1838) and Yungay
(1839) where he was injured and promoted to Brigadier General.
At the Chilean Revolution of 1851, he was the head of General José María de la Cruz
's rebel army general staff, while the government troops were under the command of General Manuel Bulnes
, of whom Baquedano's son Manuel
was personal adjutant. The rebel army was defeated at the battle of Loncomilla in December 1851. There, he and his son Eleuterio Baquedano where wounded and captured in battle. He was subsequently pardoned by President Manuel Montt
and reincorporated to the service.
In 1858, Baquedano retired completely from the army, and was named a member of the Martial Court of Appeals of Concepción. He died of a stroke at his home in Concepción
, at the age of 66.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an military and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
. Fernando Baquedano was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent, his ascendants came from Abarzuza
Abárzuza
Abárzuza is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
.
Fernando Baquedano was born in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, the son of Miguel Baquedano y Zebreros and of Isidora Rodríguez Rojas. In 1808, at the age of 12, he joined the ranks of the Queen's dragoons. Baquedano took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning, and during the Chilean War of Independence he served under both José Miguel Carrera
José Miguel Carrera
José Miguel Carrera Verdugo was a Chilean general, member of the prominent Carrera family, and considered one of the founders of independent Chile. Carrera was the most important leader of the Chilean War of Independence during the period of the Patria Vieja...
and Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
in the siege of Chillán, and the battles of El Roble, Quirihue and Cauquenes (1813), Gomero, Alto del Quilo, Paso del Maule, Tres Montes y Quechereguas (1814). After the defeat of Rancagua he was forced , together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Once there he joined the Army of the Andes, and fought in the battles of Chacabuco
Battle of Chacabuco
The Battle of Chacabuco, fought during the Chilean War of Independence, occurred on February 12, 1817. The Army of the Andes of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata led by General Captain José de San Martín defeated the Spanish force led by Rafael Maroto...
and Talcahuano (1817), Cancha Rayada and Maipu
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile on April 5, 1818 between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence...
(1818). He married Teresa González de Labra y Ros on July 18, 1819, and together they had three sons, among them the future general Manuel Baquedano
Manuel Baquedano
Manuel Jesús Baquedano González was a Chilean soldier and Chief of Government, who served as Commander-in-chief of the Army during the War of the Pacific. Manuel Baquedano was of Basque descent.-Early life:...
. After the death of his first wife, he married for a second time on June 27, 1848, to Mercedes Concha Fuentealba, with whom he had another 6 children.
Between 1823 and 1824, Baquedano participated in the Peruvian War of Independence and later under General Ramón Freire in the capture of Chiloé
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island , also known as Greater Island of Chiloé , is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean...
(1826) and all the campaigns between 1827 and 1829. During the Chilean Civil War of 1829 he served under the banners of General José Joaquín Prieto
José Joaquín Prieto
José Joaquín Prieto Vial was a Chilean military and political figure. He was twice President of Chile between 1831 and 1841. José Joaquín Prieto was of Spanish and Basque descent.-Early life:...
, and fought at the battles of Ochagavía (1829) and Lircay (1830). During the War of the Confederation
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
, he fought under Manuel Bulnes
Manuel Bulnes
-Sources:* Juan B. Alberdi, Biografia de general Bulnes...
at the battles of Portada de Guías (1838) and Yungay
Battle of Yungay
The Battle of Yungay effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian Confederation created by Bolivian Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz in 1836...
(1839) where he was injured and promoted to Brigadier General.
At the Chilean Revolution of 1851, he was the head of General José María de la Cruz
José María de la Cruz
General José María de la Cruz Prieto was a Chilean soldier.The son of Luis de la Cruz and of Josefa Prieto Sotomayor, and was a cousin of future presidents José Joaquín Prieto and Manuel Bulnes...
's rebel army general staff, while the government troops were under the command of General Manuel Bulnes
Manuel Bulnes
-Sources:* Juan B. Alberdi, Biografia de general Bulnes...
, of whom Baquedano's son Manuel
Manuel Baquedano
Manuel Jesús Baquedano González was a Chilean soldier and Chief of Government, who served as Commander-in-chief of the Army during the War of the Pacific. Manuel Baquedano was of Basque descent.-Early life:...
was personal adjutant. The rebel army was defeated at the battle of Loncomilla in December 1851. There, he and his son Eleuterio Baquedano where wounded and captured in battle. He was subsequently pardoned by President Manuel Montt
Manuel Montt
Manuel Francisco Antonio Julián Montt Torres was a Chilean statesman and scholar. He was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861.-Biography:...
and reincorporated to the service.
In 1858, Baquedano retired completely from the army, and was named a member of the Martial Court of Appeals of Concepción. He died of a stroke at his home in Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
, at the age of 66.