Carlos María de Alvear | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata | |
| In office 9 January 1815 – 15 April 1815 | |
| Preceded by | Gervasio Antonio de Posadas |
| Succeeded by | Ignacio Álvarez Thomas(interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carlos Antonio del Santo Ángel Guardián de Alvear y Balbastro (1789-10-25)25 October 1789 Santo Ángel (present-daySanto Ângelo),Rio Grande do Sul |
| Died | 3 November 1852(1852-11-03) (aged 63) |
| Resting place | La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Political party | Unitarian Party |
| Other political affiliations | Lautaro Lodge |
| Spouse | María del Carmen Sáenz de la Quintanilla |
| Children | María Carlota; Emilio Marcelo; Camilio Urbelino; Carlos F.;Torcuato Antonio; Joaquina del Carmen; Virginia Mercedes; Diego; Juan Nepomuceno; León Gabino |
| Profession | Soldier,Politician |
Carlos María de Alvear (25 October 1789 – 3 November 1852) was an Argentine soldier, statesman and diplomat who served as the secondSupreme Director of theUnited Provinces of the Río de la Plata from 9 January to 15 April 1815.[1] He played a leading role in the capitulation of royalist-heldMontevideo in June 1814 and later commanded the republican army in theCisplatine War, winning theBattle of Ituzaingó (20 February 1827).[2][3]
Alvear was born in Santo Ángel (today Santo Ângelo, Brazil), son of Spanish naval officerDiego de Alvear y Ponce de León and María Balbastro. An authority record of theArchivo General de la Nación gives his full baptismal name asCarlos Antonio José Gabino del Ángel de la Guarda Alvear.[4]
In 1804 he travelled with his family to Spain in a four-frigate convoy. On 5 October 1804, off Cape Santa María, a British squadron intercepted the Spanish ships; the frigateNuestra Señora de las Mercedes exploded during the action, killing Alvear’s mother and siblings. Contemporary and later accounts note that Carlos, then a teenager, was aboard the flagshipMedea with his father and witnessed the explosion.[5][6]
After service in Spain during thePeninsular War, Alvear went to Buenos Aires with other officers in 1812. TheNational Historical Museum notes his participation among the officers associated with the so-calledLautaro Lodge, a secret society that supported the revolutionary government.[7]
He was active in operations around Montevideo. Following decisive naval victories byGuillermo Brown in May 1814, negotiations and military pressure led to the capitulation of Montevideo in late June; Alvear entered the city with the besieging army on 23 June 1814.[8][9][10]
On 9 January 1815 the Assembly chose Alvear asSupreme Director; he resigned in mid-April amid military unrest and political opposition.[1] Archival research compiled by Archontology indicates that a provisional executive named by the Assembly did not take office and that the directorship remained vacant untilIgnacio Álvarez Thomas assumed as interim Director on 6 May 1815.[1]
After resigning, Alvear left the country and lived in Brazil and the Banda Oriental before returning in the early 1820s.[11]
In 1826 PresidentBernardino Rivadavia appointed Alvear Minister of War and Navy and shortly thereafter general-in-chief in the war against the Empire of Brazil. On 20 February 1827 he commanded the United Provinces’ army to victory atItuzaingó, the largest engagement of the war.[12][13]
Alvear undertook diplomatic missions to Europe and the United States. He presented his credentials at Washington on 11 October 1824 as minister plenipotentiary, holding interviews with President James Monroe; scholarship has examined his role within the diplomatic context surrounding the laterMonroe Doctrine.[14] He later served again as Argentina’s minister to the United States underJuan Manuel de Rosas. Alvear died in New York City on 3 November 1852 and was buried atLa Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.[15]
Assessments of Alvear have varied widely in Argentine historiography, from severe criticism of his brief directorship to recognition of his military leadership during the Cisplatine War.[16][17]
Works related toAlvear's letter to San Martín (in Spanish) at Wikisource
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