Bernardo O’Higgins
Liberator of Chile, First Chilean Head of State
The Lion Who Freed Chile
Bernardo O’Higgins was the illegitimate son of an Irish-born Spanish colonial governor, who became Chile’s liberator and first Supreme Director. His Leo military genius, working alongside Simón Bolívar’s ally José de San Martín, crossed the Andes and defeated Spanish forces in a campaign that freed an entire nation.
Leo Legacy
- Battle of Chacabuco: 1817 — decisive victory that effectively ended Spanish rule in Chile
- Crossing of the Andes: Led army over the Andes in winter — one of history’s great military marches
- First Supreme Director: Chile’s first head of state after independence, 1817-1823
- Legacy: His name is on Chilean currency, a region, and the national polo team
O’Higgins crossed mountains in winter with an army because Leo does not recognize the word impossible.
“Chile will live forever in the honor of its children.”