Carlos María de Alvear y Balbastro (October 25, 1789 - November 3, 1852) was an Argentine general and politician of the early 19th century.

He was born in Santo Ángel in the Misiones Province. In 1804, the family moved to Spain, where he served in the Spanish army and fought in the Napoleonic Wars. However, in 1811 he quit the Spanish royal services, returned together with José de San Martín to Buenos Aires and susequently fought for the independence of Argentina. In 1813, he was nominated president of the Constituting General Assembly, and the following year, he commanded the independentist forces that forced the Spanish royalist army under Gaspar Vigodet to capitulate at Montevideo. On January 9, 1815, he was elected Supreme Director, but had to resign already on April 15 the same year, since his attempts to install himself as a dictator were strongly opposed by the armies of general Ignacio Álvarez Thomas. As a consequence, he had to leave to country until 1824. In the war with Brazil in 1827 he again served as a general for Argentina and won the battle of Ituzaingó (February 20). In 1829, he became "War minister", and from 1838 on, he was minister plenipotentiary (a rank of ambassador) to the United States. He died in New York City.

See also

List of Presidents of Argentina

External link

• Biography (in Spanish).