Bernardo O'Higgins

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**General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme**
Image:Ohiggins.jpg
Order:	2nd Supreme Director
Period in Office:	February 16, 1817-January 28, 1823
Predecessor:	Francisco de la Lastra
Successor:	Ramón Freire
Date of Birth:	August 20, 1778
Place of Birth:	Chillán, Chile
Date of Death:	October 24, 1842
Place of Death:	Lima, Peru

Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (August 20, 1778 – October 24, 1842), South American Independentist leader and first Chilean head of state (Supreme Director, 1817–23), 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 his early years with his mother's family in south Chile. He had a distant relationship with his father who supported him financially and was concerned with his education, but never knew him. Spanish government officials in America were forbidden to marry locals.

As Ambrose O'Higgins became viceroy of Peru, young Bernardo was sent to London to complete his studies. There, Bernardo became acquainted with 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 February 12, 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 on February 16, 1817. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic.

His six-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 the establishment of democracy and abolishment of nobility titles) were resisted by the powerful conservative large-land owners. Also, his government was involved - pressumable under the pressure of the Logia Lautarina - in the murder of adversary indepentist leaders José Miguel Carrera, his brothers Juan Jose and Luis in Argentina, and Carreras' friend and guerrilla leader Manuel Rodriguez. He was deposed by a conservative coup on January 28, 1823.

During his government, he also assisted Jose de San Martin to organised the Expedition and an Army and Navy to support the Indepence of Peru. He also organised the Chilan Army and the first Chilean Navy, in command of Lord Thomas Cochrane and Manuel Blanco Encalada.

After his deposal, O'Higgins spent the rest of his life in exile, and died in Lima, Peru in 1842.

After his death, his remains were repatriated to Chile in 1869, moved in 1979 from the Military School to a 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).

Image:Clarence House, Richmond, Surrey.jpg Image:O'Higgins blue plaque.jpg There is a statue of O'Higgins in Richmond upon Thames, in south-west London in a square named after him, O'Higgins Square, and a blue plaque was erected in his honour at Clarence House in Richmond, the house at 2 The Vineyard in which he lived while studying in London. There is also a plaque in his honour in Merrion Square in Dublin and in the Garavogue River Walkway in Sligo, Ireland and a sculpture at Central station on Elizibeth St in Sydney, Australia.

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Bernardo O'Higgins

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