Belgrano, Manuel

Belgrano, Manuel (mänwĕl` bĕlgrä`nō), 1770–1820, Argentine revolutionist. Important as a political figure, he was appointed secretary of the commercial tribunal of Buenos Aires in 1794. He vigorously championed popular education and proposed economic reforms. Belgrano contributed to Telégrafo mercantil, the first periodical (founded 1801) of the Río de la Plata, and published (1810–11) Correo de comercio. He served under Liniers against the British invaders (1806–7). A leader in the revolution of May, 1810, he was a member of the first patriot governing junta and commander of the unsuccessful expedition to Paraguay. In 1812 he succeeded Pueyrredón as commander of the Army of the North and won decisive battles at Tucumán (1812) and Salta (1813). Later in 1813 he invaded Upper Peru (now Bolivia), but after defeats at Vilcapugio and Ayohuma he was superseded (1814) by San Martín. In 1815 Belgrano was in Europe on an unsuccessful diplomatic mission. He again commanded the Army of the North from 1816 to 1819.