Ignacio Álvarez Thomas, a Peruvian as supreme director of Argentina

For example, an Argentine was president of Chile; and a Peruvian was Supreme Director in our reborn homeland, five years after the May Revolution.

Let us remember here that Cornelio Saavedra, President of the first Patriotic Government with the First Junta, was born in what is today Bolivia. On the other hand, Larrea and Matheu, members of the same, were Spanish.

Álvarez Thomas’ first appearance in the political arena was the signing of the Open Town Council petition, which culminated in the creation of the First National Board.

There was some discussion about his inclusion, but his age – 23 years old at the time – meant that he was not included. In addition, another 23-year-old had already been nominated as a member: Juan Larrea, who committed suicide five years later.

In any case, the average age of the members of the Board was 43 years old, the oldest being Miguel de Azcuénaga, who was 55 years old.

Saavedra, the President of the Junta, was almost 50 years old. Belgrano was 39 years old and Moreno only 31.

But let us return to our man of today. Alvarez Thomas, born in Arequipa, Peru, in 1787.

He was the son of a Spanish military man, a Brigadier, who was Governor of Arequipa when he was born.

His mother, also Spanish, was noticing in little Ignacio, at just 10 years old, certain rebellious expressions against Spanish domination in the region.

One day, when he was 18 or 19 years old, the young man said to his parents:

-“The English are about to land in the port of Buenos Aires. I will go to fight for what I believe is right.”

Tempting offers from his parents could not dissuade him.

Finally he traveled alone, and with some sadness for having simultaneously broken all family ties.

But he felt within himself that a single sprout of justice would justify a desert.

Then came the events of May 1810, which we have already mentioned incidentally, and in 1815, already being an army officer, he led an uprising against Carlos María de Alvear, whom he dismissed.

Later we see him leading the destiny of this nascent nation as Supreme Director. He was already the deputy of General Rondeau, whom he succeeded.

He lasted only one year as ruler.

But perhaps I have omitted his true vocation, which was to exercise his military profession.

He was already a Colonel with several years in the rank.

As Supreme Director, in 1816 he wrote a long note addressed to General San Martín, in which he suggested the convenience of carrying out a partial invasion of Chile, given the impossibility of making it massive and even less official.

Some historians say that this idea was germinating in San Martín’s mind until it became a reality.

In the last stage of his intense life he was a diplomat. And in that capacity he acted as plenipotentiary minister to the governments of Chile and Peru.

He was a man who, for his ideas, suffered prison and also exile, for his opposition to Rosas.

He was only able to return from exile in 1853, after Urquiza’s triumph at Caseros.

He is promoted to General.

He was already 66 years old and had circulatory problems that had plagued him since he was young.

She also suffered one of those pains that tears cannot cure: she lost her two children.

And on July 20, 1857, at the age of 70, a stroke put an end to his life, a clean and dignified life.

Álvarez Thomas was a superior spirit who even knew how to value the virtues of his adversaries.

And a final aphorism. It belongs to L. Sem. for this illustrious patriot.

“We all suffer for our own sakes. But great spirits also suffer for the sake of others.”