31 Facts About Manuel Alberti

Manuel Maximiliano Alberti was an Argentine priest from Buenos Aires when the city was part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata.

Manuel Alberti had a curacy at Maldonado, Uruguay during the British invasions of the River Plate, and returned to Buenos Aires in time to take part in the May Revolution of 1810.

Manuel Alberti was chosen as one of the seven members of the Primera Junta, considered the first national government of Argentina.

Manuel Alberti had three brothers, Isidoro, Manuel Silvestre and Felix, and three sisters, Casimira, Juana Maria and Maria Clotilde.

The Manuel Alberti family became benefactor of the House of Spiritual Works of Buenos Aires by donating them a land plot so it could move its headquarters.

Manuel Alberti moved to Cordoba the following year, to get university studies of theology at the National University of Cordoba.

Manuel Alberti got his degree at the Church of the Company from interim provost Fray Pedro Gaitan.

Manuel Alberti received the presbyterate in the first months of 1786, and was appointed for the Concepcion parish, the same one where he was baptized.

Manuel Alberti worked at the aforementioned House of Spiritual Works of Buenos Aires.

Manuel Alberti provided medical aid to wounded Spanish soldiers and conducted Catholic funerals for military casualties; he secretly wrote letters to nearby Spanish authorities containing details about the British military disposition in the city.

However, Manuel Alberti was released by British Army officer John Jaime Backhouse, who permitted a restoration of Catholic religious practices in the city under military escort.

Manuel Alberti returned to Buenos Aires in 1808, and got the curacy of San Benito de Palermo.

Manuel Alberti became involved with politics as well, joining the groups of Miguel de Azcuenaga and Nicolas Rodriguez Pena.

Manuel Alberti was among the nineteen that voted for the removal of the viceroy, supporting the proposal of Cornelio Saavedra.

Manuel Alberti supported Juan Nepomuceno Sola and Ramon Vieytes, who proposed the calling of deputies from the other cities of the viceroyalty.

On that day Manuel Alberti moved to Azcuenaga's house and from it he observed the events in the plaza, along with many other patriots gathered there.

Manuel Alberti was there when he learned that he was chosen as a member of the new Junta.

Manuel Alberti signed most of the rulings that shaped the new political system, such as those related to popular sovereignty, representative and republican principles, separation of powers, publicity of the government actions, freedom of speech and the bases of political federalism.

Manuel Alberti refused to sign the death penalty for Santiago de Liniers, captured after the defeat of his counter-revolution.

Manuel Alberti signed the harsh commands given to Castelli for the first Upper Peru campaign, but noticing next to his signature that he made an exception with the articles involving capital punishment.

Manuel Alberti was concerned by the role of the church in the new political system and headed a dispute against the Cabildo about it.

Manuel Alberti considered that the Cabildo should not have any authority over the Junta in ecclesiastic topics, to prevent the former abuses of the absolutist governments.

Manuel Alberti worked in journalism as well, at the Gazeta de Buenos Ayres newspaper created by the Junta.

Manuel Alberti did not, and Moreno made harsh comments about it.

Manuel Alberti would be further distanced from Moreno when the Junta voted for the incorporation of the deputies from other cities into the Junta.

At first, both of them opposed the proposal, but Manuel Alberti ultimately voted accepting it, stating that he did so just out of political convenience.

Manuel Alberti opposed both Saavedra and Funes, albeit in a more moderate manner than Moreno.

Manuel Alberti was buried in the cemetery of San Nicolas de Bari, as requested in his will.

Manuel Alberti was the first member of the Primera Junta to die.

Manuel Alberti was replaced in the Junta by Nicolas Rodriguez Pena, a decided morenist.

Manuel Alberti's remains were lost when the chapel was demolished to make way for an expansion of 9 de Julio Avenue.