Juan Antonio Lavalleja
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Juan Antonio Lavalleja (June 24, 1784 – October 22, 1853) was an Uruguayan revolutionary and political figure. Today's Lavalleja Department is named after him.
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[edit] Pre-Independence role
He led the group called "Thirty-Three Orientals" during Uruguay's Declaration of Independence from Brazil in 1825. His leadership of this group has taken on somewhat mythic proportions in popular Uruguayan historiography.
[edit] Post-Independence career
After Uruguay's independence in 1827, Lavalleja sought the presidency as a rival to Fructuoso Rivera, who won. In protest to his loss, Lavalleja staged revolts. He was part of a triumvirate chosen in 1852 to govern Uruguay, but died shortly after his accession to power.
[edit] Historical Legacy
Lavalleja is remembered as a fugitive and rebel who led the fight against Uruguayans' Brazilian masters. But as one of the major figures in early, post-independence Uruguayan history he is identified as a skilled but reactionary warrior who contributed to the culture of intermittent civil war which dogged Uruguay for much of the 19th century.
One of Uruguay's Departments is named after him.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
| Preceded by Venancio Flores |
President of Uruguay 1853 – 1854 |
Succeeded by Fructuoso Rivera |
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