pat: (Default)
pat ([personal profile] pat) wrote2003-01-14 08:26 pm

TQOTD: History

I majored in History in college. The great thing about this field is that you can discuss almost anything and label it "history" : >

This, however, is a straighforward "typical" history question: the revolutionary figure Bernardo O'Higgins was the first president of what country?



Chile. O'Higgins was a major figure in the Chilean revolt which overthrew Spanish rule and became the first president of the Republic of Chile in 1817. He was deposed in 1823, after which he spent the rest of his days in Peru. Source: Biography.com. BTW, the "O'Higgins" came from his father, who had been the Irish-born viceroy of Chile and Peru.

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geekchick: (Default)

[personal profile] geekchick 2003-01-14 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Finally, one I knew the answer to! ;)

[identity profile] wcg.livejournal.com 2003-01-15 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed! I came across Bernardo first in the pages of Patrick O'Brian's novels.

[identity profile] patgreene.livejournal.com 2003-01-15 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
Really? Which ones? I have read maybe one or two.... [livejournal.com profile] brian1789 has read them all.

[identity profile] wcg.livejournal.com 2003-01-15 10:57 am (UTC)(link)
Let's see... O'Higgins is featured in Blue At The Mizzen, but also gets mentioned in several of the earlier books, perhaps as far back as The Commodore.

If you're familiar with the actual historical character Jack Aubrey is modeled on, Lord Cochrane, you'll know that he was closely involved with O'Higgins in the Chilean independence movement.