Juan Martín de Pueyrredón
Encyclopedia
Juan Martín de Pueyrredón y O'Dogan (December 18, 1777 – March 13, 1850) was an Argentine
general and politician of the early 19th century. He was appointed Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
after the Argentine Declaration of Independence
.
, the fifth of eight sons of Juan Martín de Pueyrredón y Labroucherie and María Rita Dogan. Pueyrredon father was a French merchant who established himself in Cadiz with his brother and later in Buenos Aires, getting married with Maria in that city. He was educated at the Royal College, up to the death of his father in 1791. María became the head of the family, assisted by Anselmo Sáenz Valiente in business, and retired Juan Martín from his studies at the age of 14. He moved then to live with a relative at Cádiz, Spain, and learn about commerce. His first business took him to Madrid and France. He returned briefly to Buenos Aires to conclude his father's testament, and got married with Dolores in Spain at his return. They returned to Buenos Aires, but Dolores lost her pregnancy during the trip. Pueyrredón thouth of returning to Spain with her, hoping to restore her health by visiting her family, but she lost another pregnancy, her health worsened, and died on May 1805.
. Pueyrredón was among the criollos who did not believe that the British would help them to became independent from Spain. He moved to Montevideo and got an interview with governor Pascual Ruiz Huidobro. Huidobro authorized him to organize a resistance, so he returned to Buenos Aires and secretly prepared an army at the Perdriel ranch. The British, however, discovered it and defeated the half-prepared army. Pueyrredón escaped to Colonia del Sacramento
and joined Santiago de Liniers
, whose army would eventually defeat the British.
In 1807 he was sent as representative of Buenos Aires
to Spain again, but returned in 1809 via Brazil
to Buenos Aires, where he subsequently participated in the independentist movement. After the May Revolution
of 1810, which gave birth to the first local government junta, he was appointed governor of Córdoba, and in 1812 he became the leader of the independent forces and a member of the short-lived First Triumvirate
. From 1812 to 1815, he was exiled in San Luis
.
. He strongly supported José de San Martín
's military campaign in Chile
, and also founded the first national bank of Argentina and the national mint. After the declaration of a Unitarian
constitution, revolts forced him to resign as Supreme Director in 1819 and go into exile in Montevideo
. He subsequently played a very small role in politics, most notably serving in 1829 as a mediator between Juan Manuel de Rosas
and Juan Lavalle
. He died in retirement on his ranch in San Isidro, Buenos Aires
.
, was born in Buenos Aires on January 24, 1823. From 1835 to 1849, Pueyrredón and his family lived in Europe.
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...
general and politician of the early 19th century. He was appointed Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, according to the form of government established in 1814 by the Asamblea del Año XIII...
after the Argentine Declaration of Independence
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
.
Early life
Pueyrredón was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, the fifth of eight sons of Juan Martín de Pueyrredón y Labroucherie and María Rita Dogan. Pueyrredon father was a French merchant who established himself in Cadiz with his brother and later in Buenos Aires, getting married with Maria in that city. He was educated at the Royal College, up to the death of his father in 1791. María became the head of the family, assisted by Anselmo Sáenz Valiente in business, and retired Juan Martín from his studies at the age of 14. He moved then to live with a relative at Cádiz, Spain, and learn about commerce. His first business took him to Madrid and France. He returned briefly to Buenos Aires to conclude his father's testament, and got married with Dolores in Spain at his return. They returned to Buenos Aires, but Dolores lost her pregnancy during the trip. Pueyrredón thouth of returning to Spain with her, hoping to restore her health by visiting her family, but she lost another pregnancy, her health worsened, and died on May 1805.
British invasions
Buenos Aires was invaded by British forces in 1806, during the first British invasions of the Río de la PlataBritish invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
. Pueyrredón was among the criollos who did not believe that the British would help them to became independent from Spain. He moved to Montevideo and got an interview with governor Pascual Ruiz Huidobro. Huidobro authorized him to organize a resistance, so he returned to Buenos Aires and secretly prepared an army at the Perdriel ranch. The British, however, discovered it and defeated the half-prepared army. Pueyrredón escaped to Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
and joined Santiago de Liniers
Santiago de Liniers
Jacques de Liniers was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name, Santiago de Liniers...
, whose army would eventually defeat the British.
In 1807 he was sent as representative of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to Spain again, but returned in 1809 via Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to Buenos Aires, where he subsequently participated in the independentist movement. After the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
of 1810, which gave birth to the first local government junta, he was appointed governor of Córdoba, and in 1812 he became the leader of the independent forces and a member of the short-lived First Triumvirate
First Triumvirate (Argentina)
The First Triumvirate was the executive body of government that replaced the Junta Grande in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata...
. From 1812 to 1815, he was exiled in San Luis
San Luis, Argentina
-External links:* * *...
.
Supreme director
In 1816, Pueyrredón was elected Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la PlataSupreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, according to the form of government established in 1814 by the Asamblea del Año XIII...
. He strongly supported José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
's military campaign in Chile
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...
, and also founded the first national bank of Argentina and the national mint. After the declaration of a Unitarian
Unitarian Party
Unitarianists or Unitarians were the proponents of the concept of a Unitary state in Buenos Aires during the civil wars which shortly followed the Declaration of Independence of Argentina in 1816. They were opposed to the Argentine Federalists, who wanted a federation of independent provinces...
constitution, revolts forced him to resign as Supreme Director in 1819 and go into exile in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. He subsequently played a very small role in politics, most notably serving in 1829 as a mediator between Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
and Juan Lavalle
Juan Lavalle
Juan Galo de Lavalle was an Argentine military and political figure.-Biography:Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires to María Mercedes González Bordallo and Manuel José de La Vallée y Cortés, general accountant of rents and tobacco for the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.In 1799, the family moved to...
. He died in retirement on his ranch in San Isidro, Buenos Aires
San Isidro, Buenos Aires
San Isidro, Buenos Aires is a municipality in Greater Buenos Aires and one of the most affluent municipalities in Argentina. It is located in San Isidro Partido in the Buenos Aires Province....
.
Personal life
Pueyrredón was married to María Calixta Tellechea y Caviedes. Their only son, famous painter and civil engineer PrilidianoPrilidiano Pueyrredón
Prilidiano Pueyrredón was an Argentine painter, architect, and engineer. As one of the country's first prominent painters, he was known for his costumbrist sensibility and preference for everyday themes....
, was born in Buenos Aires on January 24, 1823. From 1835 to 1849, Pueyrredón and his family lived in Europe.
External links
- Biography by José M. Carcione (PDF file). Short biography at Biografías y Vidas.