Marcos González de Balcarce
Encyclopedia
Marcos González de Balcarce (1777–1832) was an Argentine
military commander and politician
in the early 19th century.
González de Balcarce was born in Buenos Aires
. He was the son of General Francisco González de Balcarce and younger brother of Juan Ramón and Antonio
, both distinguished military commanders and politicians also. He joined the armed forces as a cadet in 1788, under the command of his father, and fought in Vicroy Rafael de Sobremonte
's campaigns against incursions by Portuguese Brazilian
forces into Misiones Province
.
During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata
, he was captured by the British Navy in the Battle for Montevideo
of 1807, and taken to England
. After his release, he fought in the service of Spain
during the Peninsular War
against Napoleon. After his return to Buenos Aires, he participated in the May Revolution
in 1810, and was named Governor of Cuyo (western Argentina) by Supreme Director Gervasio Posadas, serving in that capacity from July to September 1812; he was succeeded by General José de San Martín
.
González de Balcarce served as War Minister to Supreme Director Ignacio Álvarez Thomas
in 1815, and led a campaign against the Liga Federal
of eastern separatists, meeting defeat at the hand of Entre Ríos Province
leader Francisco Ramírez
. He later served as minister in a variety of subsequent governments, many which were staunch enemies of each other, icluding Governor Juan Gregorio de Las Heras
, Presidents Bernardino Rivadavia
and Vicente López y Planes
, and Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
. He died of ill health in Buenos Aires in 1832.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
military commander and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the early 19th century.
González de Balcarce was born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He was the son of General Francisco González de Balcarce and younger brother of Juan Ramón and Antonio
Antonio González de Balcarce
Antonio González de Balcarce was an Argentine military commander in the early 19th century.González de Balcarce 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...
, both distinguished military commanders and politicians also. He joined the armed forces as a cadet in 1788, under the command of his father, and fought in Vicroy Rafael de Sobremonte
Rafael de Sobremonte
Don Rafael de Sobremonte y Núñez del Castillo, 3rd Marquis of Sobremonte , third Marquis of Sobremonte, was an aristocrat, military man and Spanish colonial administrator, and Viceroy of the Río de la Plata...
's campaigns against incursions by Portuguese Brazilian
Colonial Brazil
In the history of Brazil, Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.During the over 300 years...
forces into Misiones Province
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
.
During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata
British invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
, he was captured by the British Navy in the Battle for Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
of 1807, and taken to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. After his release, he fought in the service of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
against Napoleon. After his return to Buenos Aires, he participated in the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
in 1810, and was named Governor of Cuyo (western Argentina) by Supreme Director Gervasio Posadas, serving in that capacity from July to September 1812; he was succeeded by General José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
.
González de Balcarce served as War Minister to Supreme Director Ignacio Álvarez Thomas
Ignacio Álvarez Thomas
José Ignacio Álvarez Thomas was a South American military commander and politician of the early 19th century....
in 1815, and led a campaign against the Liga Federal
Liga Federal
The Federal League or League of Free Peoples was a confederal state based around Montevideo from 1815 to 1820...
of eastern separatists, meeting defeat at the hand of Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
leader Francisco Ramírez
Francisco Ramírez
Francisco Ramírez, 19th-century ruler of Republic of Entre Ríos, Argentina.Francisco Ramírez may also refer to:*Francisco Ramírez , Honduran footballer...
. He later served as minister in a variety of subsequent governments, many which were staunch enemies of each other, icluding Governor Juan Gregorio de Las Heras
Juan Gregorio de las Heras
Grand Marshal Juan Gregorio de Las Heras was an Argentine soldier who took part in the Spanish American wars of independence and was also a governor of the province of Buenos Aires.-Biography:...
, Presidents Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia was the first president of Argentina, from February 8, 1826 to July 7, 1827 . He was a politician of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, Argentina today...
and Vicente López y Planes
Vicente López y Planes
Alejandro Vicente López y Planes was an Argentine writer and politician who acted as interim President of Argentina from July 7, 1827 to August 18, 1827...
, and Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
. He died of ill health in Buenos Aires in 1832.