Antonio González de Balcarce

Antonio González de Balcarce (June 24, 1774 - August 15, 1819) was an Argentine military commander in the early 19th century.

He was born in Buenos Aires. He joined the armed forces as a cadet in 1788. In the battle for Montevideo in 1807, he was captured by the British forces and taken to England. After his release, he fought in Spanish services in the Napoleonic Wars. After his return to Bueonos Aires, he participatend in the revolt of May 25, 1810. Subsequently, he was named second commander for the military campaign of the independentist forces in Peru, where he won the battle of Suipacha on November 7, 1810, the first decisive victory over the Spanish royal forces.

Eventually, he was called back and became the governor of Buenos Aires in 1813. In 1816, he served as the Supreme Director ad interim, and became the Major General of the armed forces the following year under the government of Pueyrredón.

He died of ill health in Buenos Aires in 1819.

See also

• List of Presidents of Argentina

External link

• Biography (in Spanish).