born Feb. 3, 1795, Cumaná, New Granada
died June 4, 1830, Berruecos, Gran Colombia
Liberator of Ecuador and first president of Bolivia (1826–28).
A close ally of Gran Colombia (now Ecuador), Peru, and Upper Peru (now Bolivia), defeating royalist forces throughout the region. In 1826 he set up a Bolivian government and briefly served as president, but he soon retired to Gran Colombia. In 1829 he was called back into service to defend Gran Colombia against a Peruvian invasion. He was assassinated in 1830 at age 35. He is remembered as one of the most respected leaders of the Latin American wars for independence.