imon Bolivar (1783–1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who was instrumental in helping Latin American countries achieve independence from the Spanish Empire. During his lifetime, Bolivar became known as ‘El Libertador’ through helping countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia all achieve independence. Bolivar acted as a political dictator, but to some extent helped lay the foundations of democracy in Latin America. From 1819 to 1830 he served as president of the Hispanic-American republic known as Gran Colombia.

Early life

Simon Bolivar was born July 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela to wealthy aristocratic parents in Venezuela. His parents died when he was young, and he was largely brought up by his nurse, family friends and a series of instructors and educators. One of the most influential of his teachers was Don Simon Rodriguez, who taught the young Bolivar about the ideals of liberty, enlightenment and freedom. When he was 14, his mentor Rodriguez had to flee the country because he was under suspicion of plotting against the Spanish rulers. Bolivar entered the military academy Milicias de Veraguas, where he developed a passion for military strategy.

Marriage and personal tragedy

In 1799, he travelled to Europe to complete his education. Whilst in Madrid, he met Maria Rodriguez and they were married two years later. However, shortly after their marriage in January 1802, Maria contracted yellow fever and died. It left Bolivar emotionally distraught. He vowed he would never marry again and later commented that such a personal blow may have been a reason he threw his energies into politics and not domestic life.

“Look the way things are: if I were not widowed, my life would have maybe been different; I would not be the General Bolívar nor the Libertador,” – Bolivar, 1828

However, although he did not get married he did have several lovers and he became close to Manuela Sáenz who would later save him from an assassination attempt.

Bolivar then moved to Paris, where he continued to read the great enlightenment thinkers of Europe, such as Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau, which had an important influence on his political beliefs. He became enamoured of the ideals and vision of the American and French revolutions. Also, it was in Europe, that the idea of gaining independence for Latin American countries became an aspiration. He met Alexander von Humboldt who had recently spent five years in south America, he remarked to Bolivar:

“I believe that your country is ready for its independence. But I can not see the man who is to achieve it.”

This thought stayed with Bolivar and on a visit to Rome, at the top of Aventine Hill, he made a celebrated vow that he would not rest until his fatherland had been liberated from Spain.

Whilst in Paris he witnessed the coronation of Napoleon. Bolivar was mostly impressed with Napoleon and felt that Latin America needed a similar strong leader. Unlike the United States, he worried that Latin America lacked the education and strength to cope with full liberty.

Liberation movement

In 1807, Bolivar returned to Venezuela via the United States. He found that the Spanish colonies were increasingly agitating for independence. When a triumphant Napoleon deposed the Spanish Royal family from political power, people in south America saw it as an opportunity to assert their independence from Spain. Bolivar became heavily involved in the movement for independence and in 1810, he was chosen to go on a mission to Britain to seek military and financial support in their campaign for independence.

Bolivar returned in 1811 and found the country debating whether to declare independence. He spoke passionately in favour. After a vigorous national debate, the Venezuela national assembly declared independence on 5 July 1811. Bolivar was overjoyed and to mark the occasion, he freed all the slaves in his family and called for the end of slavery in the western Hemispher. Bolivar then joined the Venezuelan army, but by 1812, the Spanish had regained control and Bolivar escaped to Cartagena in New Grenada. In New Grenada, Bolivar wrote, “The Cartagena Manifesto” in which he called for renewed efforts for Venezuela to regain its independence from Spain.

“A people that love freedom will in th