Ambrosio Bernardo O’Higgins y O’Higgins, 1st Marquess of Osorno (1720 – 1801) was born on the eastern shore of Lough Arrow in Sligo.
Like so many of us, he left Ireland to seek his fortune. In 1751 he arrived at Cadiz and five years later went to South America where he was an itinerant pedlar – had he pursued this career at home he would have been called a tinker.
“About 1760, O’Higgins enrolled in the Spanish Imperial Service as draughtsman and then engineer. He was directly responsible for the establishment of a reliable postal service between La Plata colony and the General Captaincy of Chile. On his first harrowing journey over the Andes mountains separating Argentina and Chile during the winter of 1763–64, O’Higgins conceived the idea of a chain of weatherproof shelters. By 1766, thanks to O’Higgins’ efficient execution of this plan, Chile enjoyed all-year overland postal service with Argentina, which had previously been cut off for several months each winter.” (Wikipedia)
This was not the apogee of this enterprising Irishman’s career. He went on to be a major-general, Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Peru. Along the way he sired an illegitimate child, Bernardo, born in Chile in 1778. Bernardo was of a more liberal disposition than his father. A window of opportunity opened when Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808. Chile established an autonomous government in the name of Ferdinand VII, the first step to independence. It was a bumpy journey with internal battles as well as with France and Spain. Ultimately Bernardo rose to be Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean army and Supreme Director of Chile (a title redolent of the North Korean despot).
Yesterday I was in Richmond. It has all the amenities the upper middle classes enjoy: a boat builder, a wide range of independent shops, branches of Farrow & Ball and Waitrose, good overground and underground connectivity and two footnotes to the remarkable achievements of Bernardo.
Bernardo studied History and Art here at the end of the 18th century. At the base of the bust is inscribed Vivir Con Honor O Mori Con Gloria. It was his battle cry to rally the troops at the Battle of El Roble in 1813: Lads! Live with honor, or die with glory! He who is brave, follow me!
