Background Information
- Born on February 25, 1778 in northern argentina (which was being ruled by spain)
- His father was a spanish government official
- At age 7 he moved to spain where he attened the royal academy
- He fought for spain for 20 years against the French British and Portuguese
- He heard news of Argentina planing a revot against spain and resigned as an spanish Lt to assist his home country.
San Martín as a Revolutionary Leader
- On arrival in argentina he started to gather troops into an organized argentinian army
- Shortly after he became a military general
- He believed that argentina could not be free if neighboring countries still had spanish rule
- January 1817 he takes his army too chile and captures Santiago (capital) and by May of 1818 all of Chile is free.
- In July of 1821 he gained control over the peruvian capital
- In Peru his forces met with Simón Bolívar who had freed Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
- After some disscution and argument of democracy San Martín resigend and gave up all his power to Simón Bolívar.