Bernardino Rivadavia

Bernardino Rivadavia (1780-1845), Argentine statesman and president (1826-27). Born in Buenos Aires, he became a successful merchant, a leader in the War of Independence, and a member of the First Triumvirate (1811-12). From 1814 to 1820 he was an envoy of the new Argentine nation to the countries of Europe, and he later served as a government minister (1820-24), negotiating a series of loans and a treaty with Britain.

Rivadavia was influential in the writing of the Argentine constitution of 1826 and served as president of the United Provinces (1826-27). He espoused the idea of a centralized Argentine republic and sponsored the establishment of the University of Buenos Aires and the national archives. Rivadavia was president during Argentina's Cisplatine War with Brazil for possession of what is now Uruguay. He signed a peace treaty with Brazil recognizing its rights over this territory but had to repudiate it because of its unpopularity. He was forced to resign in July 1827 and left for Europe, where he lived in exile.