Background
Bartolomé Mitre was born on 26 June 1821 in Buenos Aires.
government official politician president
Bartolomé Mitre was born on 26 June 1821 in Buenos Aires.
Mitre became military commander and governor of Buenos Aires Province. He commanded Buenos Aires forces which defeated the provincial armies in 1861, spent the next year working to form the provinces into a new federal government, and was unanimously elected the first president of the new republic in 1862.
Following his presidency, Mitre increasingly turned his attention to historical investigations. He wrote the four-volume Historia de Belgrano y de la independencia argentina in 1887.
In 1874 Mitre was defeated for the presidency by Nicolás Avellaneda, charged fraud, and attempted an unsuccessful revolt. However, he was soon pardoned; he served as a diplomat and senator, ending his career as president of the Senate. Mitre was one of the founders of the Unión Cívica in 1890.
In 1870 Mitre founded La Nación, which continued for a century as one of Argentina’s most prestigious newspapers.
Many projects that shaped the future of Argentina were developed under Mitre. Buenos Aires was made provisional capital. In addition, he struggled to replace caudillo rule with institutionalized government throughout the provinces, encouraged immigration, and worked to establish public education. His government improved the ports, promoted agriculture and trade, and fostered the growth of shipping facilities and construction of railroads. These projects aided Argentina’s economic growth and modernization, based on the processing and export of agricultural products. Mitre also served as commander of the united armies against Paraguay in the War of the Triple Alliance.
