Bernardo O'Higgins

Hello, my name is Bernardo O'Higgins, and I am honored to be known as one of the founding fathers of Chile. My story begins on August 20th, 1778, when I was born in a town called Chillán. My parents were Ambrosio O'Higgins and Isabel Riquelme. My father believed a good education was very important, so when I was old enough, he sent me away to study. First, I went to school in Peru, and later, I traveled all the way to England. It was in Europe, around the year 1798, that my life's purpose became clear. I met other young people from South America who shared a powerful idea: that our countries should be free and independent, able to make their own decisions without being ruled by Spain. This idea of freedom took root in my heart and would guide me for the rest of my life.

In 1802, I returned to my home in Chile to take care of my family's land and property. For a while, life was peaceful, but the desire for independence was growing stronger all across the country. In 1810, the Chilean War of Independence finally began. I knew I could not stand by and do nothing. I felt a deep responsibility to join the cause, so I gathered people from my region and formed my own military group to fight for Chile's freedom. I must admit, I was not a trained soldier who had gone to a military school, but I was a quick learner and passionate about our mission. The fight was incredibly difficult. In 1814, we fought the Battle of Rancagua. It was a terrible defeat for us. To save our lives and continue the fight, we had to make a dangerous escape over the massive Andes Mountains to find safety in Argentina.

Once in Argentina, I met a man who would become a great friend and ally, José de San Martín. He shared my dream of a free South America. Together, we came up with a bold plan. We would not give up; instead, we would build a new, stronger army. We called it the Army of the Andes. For months, we trained our soldiers, preparing for a surprise attack. In 1817, our moment came. We led our army on an incredible journey, crossing the towering, snowy peaks of the Andes Mountains. It was a difficult and freezing trip, but we knew it was our best chance to surprise the Spanish forces waiting in Chile. Our plan worked perfectly. On February 12th, 1817, we won a great victory at the Battle of Chacabuco. This important win cleared the way for us to march into Santiago, the capital city of Chile, as heroes.

After our victory, the people of Chile needed a leader to guide the new nation. On February 16th, 1817, I was given the honor of becoming the first Supreme Director of Chile. It was a huge responsibility, and I wanted to build a strong and fair country for everyone. One of the proudest moments of my life came one year after our famous battle. On February 12th, 1818, I officially signed the Chilean Declaration of Independence, a document that declared to the world that Chile was a free and sovereign nation forever. As leader, I worked hard to make Chile better. I started the very first Chilean Navy to protect our coasts and opened new schools to make sure children could get an education. Leading a brand-new country was a very difficult job, but I did my best to serve my people.

I led Chile for several years, but eventually, some disagreements arose among the people. To prevent a conflict that could hurt our new nation, I made the difficult decision to step down as leader in 1823. I left my beloved Chile and moved to Peru, where I spent the rest of my days. I lived to be 64 years old. Today, I am remembered as the 'Liberator of Chile.' My dream was to see my country stand on its own, a place of freedom and opportunity for all its people. I am filled with pride to know that this dream came true and that the nation I fought for continues to thrive to this day.