Andrés de Santa Cruz

From Freepedia

Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana (1792-1865) Served as President of Peru in 1827 and President of Bolivia from 1829 until 1839, where he was elected after the resignation of Antonio José de Sucre. In 1836 he persuaded Peru to unite with Bolivia, and appointed himself Supreme Protector of the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy. However, in February 1839, in part because of internal turmoil and an Expeditionary Force sent by Chile, the confederacy fell apart and Santa Cruz was not able to hold on to power in either nation.

Early years

He was born in the city of La Paz, located in what is now the Republic of Bolivia, on September 5, 1792. (During this time, Bolivia was also known as "Upper Peru"). His mother was Mara Basilia Calahumana, and his father was Josep de Santa Cruz y Villavicencio. Santa Cruz claimed that his ancestors included an Inca Princess, thus proving the name Calahumana, and its presence in his name. He studied in Cuzco, in San Bernando School, leaving for Lima, in 1820. During the early years of his military career, he served in the Spanish Army, located in the Viceroyalty of Peru, one of the strongholds of the Spanish Empire in South America. Viceroy Pezuela appointed him Commander in Chief of the South Coast and Military Commander of the Port of Chorrillos.

The Independence war

Although he was on the side of the Viceroy when Independence was declared in Lima by San Martin, on July 28 of 1821, Santa Cruz changed sides and joined San Martin's forces. He took part in the battles of Junin and Ayacucho which proved the final independence of Peru.

Preceded by: Simón Bolívar	President of Peru 1826–1827	Succeeded by: José de La Mar
Preceded by: José Miguel de Velasco	President of Bolivia 1829–1839	Succeeded by: José Miguel de Velasco
Preceded by: None	Supreme Protector of the Confederacy 1836–1839	Succeeded by: None - Confederation dissolved