The Political Thought of Bolivar: Selected Writings

ISBN-10: 9401030294

ISBN-13: 9789401030298

Edition: 1971

Publication date: October 17, 2011

Paperback: 143 pages
Book Description
Life of Bolivar Sim6n Bolivar was bo in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 24, 1783, and died in Santa Marta, Colombia, on December 17, 1830. His life was relatively brief, but it was crowded with many activities, many hardships, many re­ verses, and many accomplishments. He is now revered as the Liberator of five Latin American countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. A descendant of a distinguished Creole family that originated in Biscay, Spain, the young Bolivar was orphaned at an early age and was cared for by his uncle, Carlos Palacios. As was customary, tutors were employed to edu­ cate the young boy. One of these was Andres Bello, later to become a distin­ guished scholar. Another was Sim6n Rodriguez, who was particularly influ­ enced by Rousseau and other eighteenth century philosophers. Later the young BoHvar was sent to Spain to continue his education. There he met Maria Teresa Rodriguez del Toro, whom he married in 1802. Bolivar and his bride retued to Caracas, where she died of yellow fever in 1803. Boli­ var never remarried. Retuing to Europe, Bolivar went to Spain and then to France. There he found that Napoleon, the former republican, had proclaimed himself Em­ peror of the French. After a trip to Italy, Bolivar retued to Caracas in 1807 by way of several cities in the United States.