José de la Mar

José de la Mar
2nd and 8th President of Peru
In office August 22, 1827 – June 7, 1829
Preceded by	Manuel Salazar y Baquíjano
Succeeded by	Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
In office September 22, 1822 – February 27, 1823
Preceded by	Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro
Succeeded by	José Bernardo de Tagle, Marquis of Torre-Tagle
Personal details
Born	May 12, 1778 Cuenca, in today's Ecuador
Died	October 11, 1830(1830-10-11) (aged 52) San José, Costa Rica
Nationality	Peruvian
Profession	Soldier

José de la Mar (May 12, 1778 – October 11, 1830) was a Peruvian military leader and politician who served as the second and eight President of Peru.

He was born in Cuenca in what today is Ecuador. He spent his early childhood in Spain, where he started his military career as a sub-lieutenant in the regiment of Saboya. In 1815, Ferdinand VII promoted him to Brigadier, awarded him the Saint Hermenegildo's Cross and appointed him Sub-Inspector of the Viceroyalty of Peru, with the title of Governor of Callao. He arrived at the city in 1816. In 1819, he was promoted to field marshal.

Military career in Spain

With the help of his influential uncle entered the Spanish army as lieutenant of the regiment of Savoy. In 1794 he participated in the campaign of Roussillon against the French Republic, fighting under the command of Count of Conquest, after which he was promoted to captain ( 1795 ). Then participated in various military actions against revolutionary France, and was already a lieutenant colonel in the time of Spain's national war against Napoleon's invasion ( 1808 ).He participated in the defense of Zaragoza next to the Colonel Palafox ( 1808 - 1809 ). Was seriously injured, and although that city finally capitulated, earned the title of "Hero of the nation in a heroic" and promotion to colonel .

In 1812 he transferred to the front of Valencia, led by General Joaquín Blake, and sent a column of 4,000 veterans grenadiers (the "column The Sea"). Again he was wounded, and was taken to hospital in Tudela, where he was captured by the French. No sooner was recovered was taken to France and confined in the castle of Saumur ( Burgundy ), where he studied the classics of French culture. After a time managed to escape, accompanied by Brigadier Juan María Muñoz and Manito, crossed Switzerland and the Tyrol and reached the port of Trieste, on the Adriatic Sea, where he sailed back to Spain.

The War of Independence (1821–1827): Early actions

During the early days of the Independence War, he joined forces with the Royalists, taking care of the Real Felipe Fortress, in the main port of the Viceroyalty, Callao. Viceroy José de la Serna abandoned the capital on June 6, 1821, leaving him with explicit orders to resist and wait for reinforcements. He successfully stopped all attempts to capture the fort for nearly 4 months, until the arrival of General José Canterac and a powerful division sent by Viceroy de la Serna gave him the orders to surrender the fort due to the lack of supplies and troops. On September 19, the garrison surrendered, in the Baquijano Capitulation, only two days after de la Mar finally submitted his left foot to amputation, having initially refused treatment of a gangrenous toe.^[1]

After this incident, he joined forces with the rebel cause. José de San Martín awarded him with the title of "Division General", a title he accepted reluctantly.

He was removed from the presidency of Peru by a coup d'état led by General Agustín Gamarra and died in forced exile in Costa Rica.

References