Bernardo O'Higgins Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Bernardo O'Higgins (20 August, 1778 - October, 1842), South American revolutionary leader and first Chilean head of state (supreme director, 1817–23), who commanded the military forces that won independence from Spain.
O'Higgins was born in Chillán, Chile. As noted in his certificate of Baptism, he was the illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins, a Spanish officer from County Sligo in Ireland, who became governor of Chile and later viceroy of Peru; his mother was Isabel Riquelme, a prominent lady of Chillán.
O'Higgins spent the earlier years of his life with his mother's family in south Chile. With his father he had a distant relation: he supported the son financially and was concerned of his education but never knew him. The Spaniards government officials in America were forbidden to marry locals.
As Ambrosio O'Higgins became viceroy of Peru, O'Higgins was sent to London to complete his studies. In this city Bernardo took knowledge of American-independist ideas: he knew Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda and joined the Logia Lautaro.
In 1810 he joined the nationalist rebels who desired independence from Spain. In 1814 his Chilean rebels were defeated by the Spanish and retreated into the Andes. In 1817 O'Higgins went back on the offensive with the aid of Argentine General José de San Martín. On 12 February, 1817 he led a cavalry charge that won the Battle of Chacabuco.
He became the first leader of independent Chile, and was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director. His 6-year rule saw the founding of the Military Academy and the approval of the new (and current) Chilean flag. However, his more radical and liberal reforms (such as establishment of democracy and abolishment of nobility titles) were resisted by the powerful conservative large land owners. He was deposed by a conservative coup in 1823.
O'Higgins spent the rest of his life in exile, and died in Lima, Peru in 1842. After his death, his remains have been subsequently moved: repatriated to Chile in 1869, his remains were moved in 1979 from the Military School to place of honor in the Altar de la Patria's mausoleum in front of the Palacio de La Moneda government palace, and then back again temporarily to the Military School in 2004 for a year, during transformation of the Altar de la Patria into the new Plaza de la Ciudadanía (Citizens' Square).
See also: History of Chile
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