born March 30, 1793, Buenos Aires, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
died March 14, 1877, Southampton, Hampshire, Eng.
Argentinian military and political leader.
Born to a wealthy family, Rosas emerged a federalist hero from the country's long civil war and was made governor of Buenos Aires in 1829. He left office in 1833 to pursue a war against the Indians, and in 1835 he again became governor of Buenos Aires, this time with dictatorial powers. He was the quintessential caudillo , a tyrant who cultivated a fiercely loyal personal following and ruled by intimidation and patronage. Despite his professed allegiance to federalism, he established central control over all of Argentina until he was finally overthrown in 1852 and forced to flee to England.