Biography of Simon Bolivar

Biography of Simon Bolivar
SIMON BOLIVAR

Simon Bolivar was a famous Venezuelan solider and statesman. He was the president of the Gran Colombia and the dictator of Peru. He is known for his liberation movement in six nations against the Spanish Empire.

Simon Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Venezuela. He belonged to a wealthy family. His family worked in sugar plantations and owned silver, gold and copper mines.
Simon lost his father at a very young age. He was placed under the custody of a teacher for a short while.

He received private lessons from some of the most famous teachers, one of them being Don Simon Rodriguez. Don influenced Simon’s life as a friend and a mentor. Simon learned how to swim and ride horses from his teacher. He developed an interest in human rights, political history and sociology.

At the age of fourteen, Simon entered the military academy Milicias De Veraguas. In 1800, he moved to Madrid for his studies and remained there for the next two years. He learned the military tactics that helped him later in his battles. Around 1804, he went to France. When he was in Paris, Bolivar saw the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte at Norte Dam.

The event left a deep impression on him. He thought about the liberation of the people of his native place.

 In 1807, Bolivar returned to Venezuela, which had just obtained de facto independence. There, he began his political career.

Bolivar was given the rank of colonel. Many Spanish pioneers saw this opportunity to cut their ties with Spain. Bolivar also participated in many conspiratorial meetings. In 1810, the Spanish Governor was officially expelled from Venezuela. A junta took over and the government needed help, so they sent Bolivar on a mission to London.

Bolivar was asked to obtain arms and support from England. His visit to England was a fruitful one.

In 1811, he welcomed Francisco de Miranda who was major part of the War, as the general of the revolutionary army. During the war, Bolivar lost control of San Felipe Fort. He left his post and filed to his estate in San Mateo.

Miranda signed a deal with the enemy and surrendered to them. Bolivar and the other officers termed Miranda’s actions as treasonous.

They handed Miranda over to the Spain Royal Army. Somehow, Bolivar also got a passport to flee the country and went to New Granada (present –day Colombia).

There, he published his first written work called the Cartagena Manifesto. The book was based on the fall of Venezuela’s First Republic.

Bolivar soon received the support of the nationalist of New Granada and decided to regain control of Venezuela. The Admirable Campaign was started on June 24, 1813 to form the Venezuelan defeated the Royalists in six battles.

The fight for independence soon began. A fierce Civil war broke out. In 1814, a revolution headed by Jose Tomas Boves, a Spanish commander that led to the fall of the Venezuelan Republic. Bolivar had to return to New Granada.

Bolivar fled to Haiti the very next year. There, he met Alexander Petion, who agreed to help him in the war. In 1816, Alexander helped Bolivar to Return to Venezuela.

In 1819, Bolivar attended a meetings with the Congress that the assembled in Angostura. He went to the fight two battles and won both of them. They were the Battle of Carabobo in 1821 and the Battle of Carabobo in 1821 and the Battle of Pichincha in 1822.

After the war ended, Bolivar asked the lawmakers to declare the creation of a new state. After he defeated the Spanish Army, the Republic of Colombia was established in just three days. It included the three departments of New Granada, Venezuela and Quito (Ecuador).

In 1824, Bolivar became the dictator of Peru. The next year, the country of Bolivia was founded. Bolivar is one of the few leaders who have a country named after him. He was a great leader, but faced many difficulties while dealing with Gran Colombia.

Bolivar married Maria Teresa Rodriguez in 1802. However, she passed away a few months into their marriage. Bolivar died on December 17, 1830 due to tuberculosis.