O'Higgins, Bernardo (bĕrnär`thō ōē`gēns), 1778–1842, South American revolutionary and ruler (1817–23) of Chile; illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins. He was chosen in 1813 to replace José Miguel Carrera Carrera, José Miguel (hōsā` mēgĕl`), 1785–1821, Chilean revolutionist.
..... Click the link for more information. as revolutionary leader. After the loss at Rancagua Rancagua (rängkä`gwä, –kä`wä), city (1990 est. pop.
..... Click the link for more information. , O'Higgins fled with the remnant of his army to Argentina, where he joined forces with San Martín San Martín, José de (hōsā` thā sän märtēn`)
..... Click the link for more information. . Returning to Chile in 1817, San Martín and O'Higgins defeated the Spaniards at Chacabuco Chacabuco, battle of, Feb. 12, 1817, fought between Chilean independence forces and Spanish troops. It took place just N of Santiago, Chile. José de San Martín , with Bernardo O'Higgins , assaulted and decisively defeated the Spanish forces, thus
..... Click the link for more information. . O'Higgins was named supreme director of Chile, whose independence he proclaimed on Feb. 12, 1818. His financial, political, and social reforms aroused much opposition, and in 1823 he was deposed and exiled to Peru, where he remained until his death.

Bibliography

See biographies by J. Kinsbruner (1968) and S. Clissold (1969).

O'Higgins, Bernardo

Bernardo O'Higgins.

(credit: The Granger Collection, New York)

(born probably Aug. 20, 1776/78, Chillán, Chile, Viceroyalty of La Plata—died October 1842, Peru) South American revolutionary leader and first Chilean head of state (1817–23). The illegitimate son of a Spanish officer of Irish origin, he was educated in Peru, Spain, and England, where his Chilean nationalism was awakened. When Napoleon invaded Spain (1808) and Spanish control of Chile relaxed, he became a member of Chile's new congress. He led the defensive forces when Chile was invaded by royalists from Peru in 1814; defeated, he fled to Argentina. He returned in 1817 with José de San Martín and defeated the Spanish. Elected supreme director of Chile, he established a working governmental organization, but his reforms antagonized conservatives and he resigned.