San Martín, José de (1778–1850)

South American revolutionary leader. He served in the Spanish army during the Peninsular War, but after 1812 he devoted himself to the South American struggle for independence, playing a large part in the liberation of Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule.

Born in Argentina, he was educated in Spain and served in the Spanish army for more than 20 years. In 1812 he returned to Argentina to fight for South American independence from Spain.

In 1817 he and Bernardo O'Higgins led an army across the snow-covered Andes and attacked Spanish forces in Chile, liberating that country the following year. He helped liberate Peru 1821 and assumed the title ‘Protector of Peru’ but resigned the following year and returned to Argentina. He went into exile in Europe 1824.