23 Facts About Bernardino Rivadavia

Bernardino de la Trinidad Gonzalez Rivadavia was the first President of Argentina, then called the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, from February 8,1826 to June 27,1827.

Bernardino Rivadavia was educated at the Royal College of San Carlos, but left without finishing his studies.

Bernardino Rivadavia participated in the open Cabildo on May 22,1810 voting for the deposition of the viceroy.

Bernardino Rivadavia had a strong influence on the First Triumvirate and shortly after he served as Minister of Government and Foreign Affairs of the Province of Buenos Aires.

Strongly contested by his political party, Bernardino Rivadavia resigned and was succeeded by Vicente Lopez y Planes.

Bernardino Rivadavia's remains were repatriated to Argentina in 1857, receiving honors as Captain General.

Bernardino Rivadavia's remains are in a mausoleum in Plaza Miserere, adjacent to Rivadavia Avenue, named after him.

On December 14,1809, Bernardino Rivadavia married Juana del Pino y Vera Mujica, daughter of the viceroy of the Rio de la Plata, Joaquin del Pino and his second wife, the vicereine Rafaela Francisca de Vera Mujica y Lopez Pintado.

Bernardino Rivadavia was active in both the Argentine resistance to the British invasion of 1806 and in the May Revolution movement for Argentine Independence in 1810.

In 1811, Bernardino Rivadavia became the dominant member of the governing triumvirate as Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of War.

Manuel Belgrano and Bernardino Rivadavia were sent to Europe to seek support for the United Provinces from both Spain and Britain.

Bernardino Rivadavia visited France as well, and returned to Buenos Aires in 1821, at their friends' request.

Bernardino Rivadavia sought to promote a similar development in Buenos Aires, and invited many people to move to the city.

Bernardino Rivadavia convinced Aime Bonpland to visit the country, but few other invitations were accepted.

Bernardino Rivadavia founded the University of Buenos Aires, as well as the Theatre, Geology, and Medicine Academies and the continent's first museum of natural science.

Bernardino Rivadavia persuaded the legislature to authorize a one-million pound loan for public works that were never undertaken.

In 1826, Bernardino Rivadavia was elected the first President of Argentina.

Bernardino Rivadavia's government had many problems, primarily an ongoing war with Brazil over territory in modern Uruguay and resistance from provincial authorities.

Bernardino Rivadavia returned to Argentina in 1834 to confront his political enemies, but was immediately sentenced again to exile.

Bernardino Rivadavia went first to Brazil and then to Spain, where he died on September 2,1845.

Bernardino Rivadavia asked that his body would never be brought back to Buenos Aires.

At present they rest in a mausoleum located in the Plaza Miserere, in Buenos Aires, adjacent to Bernardino Rivadavia Avenue, named in their honor.

Bernardino Rivadavia is recognized as the first president of Argentina, even though his rule was accepted only in Buenos Aires, he did not complete a full mandate, there was no constitution for more than half of his rule, and did not start a presidential succession line.