Felipe Santiago Salaverry

Felipe Santiago de Salaverry (1805 in Lima, Peru – February 19, 1836 in Arequipa, Peru) was a Peruvian soldier, politician and, from 1835 to 1836, President of Peru.

He studied in the College of San Carlos, in Lima, but when, in 1820, José de San Martín arrived in Peru, he left, notwithstanding the opposition of his father, and, baffling the vigilance of the Spanish forces, arrived in Huaura, presenting himself to the general as a volunteer. San Martin, pleased with his courage, enlisted him as a cadet of the battalion of Numancia, in which he took part in the campaign against the Spaniards. After the establishment of the republic he rose in the army, until, at the age of twenty-eight, he had obtained the rank of general.

When the garrison of Callao revolted in January, 1835, against then President Luis Orbegoso, and pronounced in favor of La Fuente, Salaverry defeated the insurgents, and was appointed governor of the fortress. But on February 23 he himself rose in arms against the government, and as Orbegozo abandoned Lima, Salaverry occupied the capital and proclaimed himself "Supreme Chief of the Republic".

In a few months he had possession of the south, and Orbegoso was reduced with a small force to the northern provinces, when he sought the intervention of Andrés Santa Cruz, with whom he concluded a treaty. The Bolivian army invaded Peru, Salaverry retired to Arequipa, and on 7 February, 1836, was totally routed at Socabaya, a district of city.

After wandering for several days, Salaverry surrendered to General Miller, who delivered him to Santa Cruz, and he was shot.

ee also

List of Presidents of Peru