---
node: sa_san_martin
type: person
slug: jose_de_san_martin
title: "José de San Martín"
lead: "José de San Martín (1778–1850) was the great liberator of southern South America. He led the independence of Argentina, Chile, and Peru."
published: 2026-07-13
updated: 2026-07-13
image_file: jose_de_san_martin.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Retrato_m%C3%A1s_can%C3%B3nico_de_Jos%C3%A9_de_San_Mart%C3%ADn.jpg"
image_author: "Unknown"
image_license: "Public domain"
---

## Who they were

A professional soldier trained in Spain, San Martín returned to fight for independence in his native Río de la Plata. He famously led an army across the high Andes to free Chile in 1817.

## What they did

From Chile he launched a seaborne campaign that captured Lima and proclaimed Peru's independence in 1821. In 1822 he met Bolívar at Guayaquil and then withdrew from public life.

## Legacy

San Martín left the completion of the war to Bolívar and died in exile in France. He is honored across Argentina, Chile, and Peru as a founding father of their independence.