BOLIVAR, Sp. pron. heele'vfir, Stmox, or BOLIVAR Y PONTE (1783-1830). A South American patriot. called the Liberator. lie was born in Caracas, July 25, 1783. of a noble and wealthy family. After studying law in Madrid, he traveled extensively on the Continent, married, and returned to his native country, where his wife died. He then revisited Enrope. and in I809 returned by way of the United States, where be became an enthusiastic admirer of republican in stitutions, and resolved to free his own country front foreign despotism. Arriving at Veue•tula, he at once associated himself with a secret organ ization of the patriots there: and after the insur rection of Carticas, April 19, 1810. he was sent to London to gain the interest of the British Cab inet. The British Government, however, declared its neutrality. and Bolivar :pccdily returned. Ile fought under General ..\liranda in several suc cessful engagements. in 1812 the Spaniards re covered possession of Venezuela. and 13olivar fled to Curacao. He did not, however, remain long inactive, but won the sympathy of the repnblierin President of New Granada, raised a fore• of vol unteers, defeated the Spaniards SM mil times, his army increasing with each victory; and on August 4, 1813, entered Car5cas as a conqueror. Ile was hailed as the liberator of Venezuela. and made absolute dictator in civil and military af fairs. After defeating the Spaniards in several engagements, he was himself beaten in the battles of La Puerta and Aragua. He went to Oartagena, and afterwards to Kingston, in Jamaica. In Haiti be assembled the insurgent refugees. landed (December, 1810) on the island of Siargarita, where he convoked a congress, in stituted a government, and proclaimed the aboli tion of slavery. The following two years were marked by successes over the Spanish general, Morillo. In February, 1819, a congress was opened at Angostura, and Bolivar. chosen Presi dent, was armed with the power of dictator. Ile conducted his forces over the almost, impassable Cordilleras to New Granada, and achieved the victories of Tunja and Sojaea. Soon afterwards in ISM New Granada united with Venezuela as the Republic of Colombia, of which he became the first President. By 1822 the new repuhlic
was completely cleared of Royalist troops. Boli var was summoned the same year to help the Peruvians, and in February, 1824, was named Dictator of Peru. By 15•5 the Spaniards were driven from Pena also: and Bolivar, calling a congress at Lima, formally resigned the dicta torship. The southern part of the country was erected into a separate State and named Bolivia (q.v.), of which he was chosen President for life. A form of government suggested by him was adopted by Bolivia in 1820. Widespread dissat isfaction in Colombia. where, in spite of consid erable opposition, he was confirmed in the prosi deney in 1826 and 1828, led to a conspiracy ii,tiainst his life, which was suppressed by the execution of the leaders and banishment of 70 acoanplices. In 1829 Venezuela separated itself from the Republic. of Colombia, which was gener ally disturbed by factions. Bolivar's ambition was loudly denounced. and. virtually forced to re sign, he retired to Cartagena. Ile died at San Pedro, December 10, 1830, having shortly before his death written a farewell address to the people of Colombia, in whieli he vindicated his ehara•ter from the aspersions that had been east on it. and complained bitterly of ingrat lim.. The war of liberation and the peculiar elements with which he bad to deal, compelled him to assume dictato rial power: but thew is no proof that lie waseve• insincere in his devotion to liberty. His prop erty was mainly devoted to the services of his country. Ile has been described as the Washing ton of South Ame•iea. By a resolution of the Congress of Colombia in 1842, his ashes were removed with great pomp from Santa Marta to A statue of Bolivar was erected in Central Park. New York. 1884. The otfieial (ha• ments connected with the career of Bolivar were published by the Government at Caracas in 1820, and his correspondence. in two volumes, at New York in 1865. Consult Dneoudrey Ilolstein, MC/noires de S. (London. 1830).