Mariano Osorio

Summary

Mariano de Osorio (Latin American Spanish: [maˈɾjano ðe oˈsoɾjo]; 1777–1819) was a Spanish general and Governor of Chile, from 1814 to 1815.

Mariano Osorio
Royal Governor of Chile
In office
January 4, 1818 – April 5, 1818
MonarchFerdinand VII
Preceded byJosé Ordóñez
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
In office
October 10, 1814 – December 26, 1815
MonarchFerdinand VII
Preceded byGabino Gaínza y Fernández de Medrano (As Captain General)
Succeeded byFrancisco Marcó del Pont
Personal details
Born1777
Seville, Spain
Died1819
Havana, Cuba
SpouseJoaquina de la Pezuela
ProfessionBrigadier General
Military service
AllegianceSpain Spain
Battles/warsPeninsular War

Chilean War of Independence

Early career edit

Osorio was born in Seville, Spain. He joined the Spanish army and as many of his contemporaries, his military career began during the Spanish Peninsular War in 1808 as an artillery general, as well as the professor for mathematics in the military school. In 1810, was appointed head of the military factory of Catalonia. In 1812, was destined to the Royal Army in Peru.

In 1812 he resettled in Peru, where he married Joaquina de la Pezuela, daughter of Peruvian Viceroy Joaquín de la Pezuela. In the Disaster of Rancagua (1814) he was able to defeat the forces of Bernardo O'Higgins and Jose Miguel Carrera.[1] In the same year he became the Governor of Chile.

Chile edit

With Osorio's victory at Rancagua, the period known as "reconquest" (Reconquista) of Chile had begun. Osorio sought to reinstate order and justice and with military measures he prevented the onslaught of the insurgents.[2]

In 1816 he returned to Lima and Francisco Marcó del Pont was made new Governor of Chile. When the Spaniards lost the Battle of Chacabuco, he returned to Chile. There he succeeded in securing victory in the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada on March 18, 1818. At this battle O'Higgins's arm was injured.

The Battle of Maipu, however, was a major defeat for the Spaniards, and it signified the end of the Spanish authority in almost all of Chile, with the exception of the island of Chiloé and the city of Valdivia.

Osorio proceeded to Cuba, where he died in 1819 of malaria.

References edit

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh (1910). The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information. At the University Press. p. 154.
  2. ^ Cruz, Juan Luis Ossa Santa (2014-12-31). Armies, Politics and Revolution: Chile, 1808–1826. Liverpool University Press. pp. 46–86. ISBN 978-1-78138-744-3.
Government offices
Preceded by Royal Governor of Chile
1814–1815
Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Captain General of Chile
1814–1815
Succeeded by
Francisco Marcó del Pont (As Royal Governor)
Preceded by
José Ordóñez
Captain General of Chile
1818
Succeeded by
Position Abolished