Rivadavia, Bernardino

Related Category: Argentinian History: Biographies

(bārnärthē´nō rēväthä´vyä), 1780–1845, Argentine statesman and diplomat, first president of the United Provinces of La Plata (1826–27). He served (1806–7) under Jacques de Liniers against the British invaders and was a leading advocate of independence in 1810. As a member of the first triumvirate of the young republic (1811–12), he exerted a significant influence. After six years (1814–20) as a diplomat in Europe, he became a minister under Martín Rodríguez, governor of Buenos Aires, and was largely responsible for the progressive measures of that administration. He was envoy to Great Britain before becoming president of the republic. An ardent liberal, Rivadavia instituted many reforms and strove to impose centralistic government on the nation. A unitarian constitution, adopted in 1826, was rejected by Quiroga and other chieftains, who revolted. Rivadavia resigned and went into exile.