Biography on simon bolivar

Simón bolívar death

Called the Liberator, he was the greatest military figure of South America. His parents belonged to the aristocratic upper class , the Creoles. Orphaned at the age of 9, the boy early showed traits of independence and a strong will. Sent to Madrid in to complete his education, he came under the tutelage of an uncle who secured the proper instruction for the young aristocrat, which included his acquaintance with the decadent court of Charles IV and some of the noble families of Madrid.

In the couple went to Caracas, where after only 6 months of wedded life the young wife died. Expressions of unrest and rebellion already existed in Hispanic America, but it was not until that the independence movement disturbed the solid structure of the Spanish Empire. That year Napoleon occupied the Iberian Peninsula , deposed the Bourbon dynasty, and appointed his brother Joseph king of Spain.

All the colonies refused to recognize the usurper but were divided about the policy they should pursue.

What did simón bolívar do

Some continued to adhere to the Spanish royal family, but others were bent upon independence and self-government. On April 19, , the Spanish captain general in Caracas was overthrown, and a junta of native citizens took over his duties. Three months later he was sent to London to obtain England's assistance, but his mission was a failure. He returned to Venezuela, and was followed by Francisco de Miranda , a leader in the conflict with Spain.

In July Venezuela cut its ties with Spain and proclaimed its independence, but this "First Republic" was a flimsy structure and soon came under counter revolutionary attack. He was appointed dictator but was soon faced with internal dissensions which led to civil war. Again forced to flee, he took refuge in Jamaica and again tried to engage British support for his cause.

Although this effort came to naught, one of his most celebrated manifestos was composed there: the "Letter from Jamaica. There he found an untapped reservoir of raw material and manpower.