Andrés Bello

Andrés Bello (1781-1865), Venezuelan poet, educator, and scholar. His poetry is known for its classical style, celebrating the natural beauty and country life of South America. Bello was born in Caracas and educated at the University of Venezuela. In 1810 he went to London, England, where he served as secretary to the legations of Colombia and Chile and wrote his famous two-part epic poem, Silvas Americanas (American Woods, 1826-1827). In 1829 Bello returned to South America to accept a post in the Chilean government and in 1843 he became the first rector of the University of Chile.

Of Bello’s many works, the most important are Principios de derecho internacional (Principles of International Jurisprudence, 1832), a standard textbook on international law, and Gramática de la lengua castellanapara uso de hispano-americanos (Grammar of the Castilian Language for use by Latin Americans, 1847). Gramática de la lengua castellanapara uso de hispano-americanos was the first scientific study of Spanish; with this work, Bello began to propose a single linguistic standard for all of Latin America. His works can be found in translation in Anthology of Andrés Bello (1981) and Philosophy of the Understanding (1984).