Bolivar, SIMON (named El Libertador for having rescued South America from the Spanish yoke), was born in Caracas, in what is now Venezuela, July 24, 1783, and was descended from a noble and wealthy family. He studied law at Madrid, and visited several other capitals, witnessing in Paris the closing scenes of the Revolution. In 1801 he returned to Caracas, but on the death of his young wife he came to Europe again in 1804, and in 1809 visited the United States, from which he returned with the determination to free his country from foreign despotism. Arriving in Venezuela, he at once associated himself with the patriots there; and after the insurrection at Caracas in 1810, he was sent to London with a view to interest the British cabinet in their aims. The British government, however, declaring its neutrality, Bolivar speedily returned. On the declaration of independence by Venezuela on July 5, 1811, war was commenced by the Spaniards, and
Bolivar fought under General Miranda in several successful engagements. The royalists having again obtained possession of Venezuela, Bolivar had to flee to Curaçao; but in September 1812 he joined the insurgents in New Granada, and driving the Spaniards back beyond the Magdalena, recrossed the frontier with a force of 500 men, and proclaimed a war to the death. His army increased with each victory; and on August 4, 1813, he entered Caracás as a conqueror, and proclaimed himself dictator of western Venezuela. Fortune soon deserted the patriots, however; in June 1814 they were routed at Cura, and 1500 slain. Bolivar was compelled to retire to Cartagena, and, after some further service in New Granada, to Kingston in Jamaica, where an assassin, hired by the Spaniards, tracked his steps, but by mistake murdered his secretary. Having visited Hayti, and assembled there the insurgent refugees (1816), Bolivar twice landed in Venezuela; he was finally compelled to flee to Barcelona, and there formed a provisional government. The following two years were marked by a series of conflicts in which the scattered parties of patriots were most frequently beaten. In 1819 a congress was opened at Angostura, and Bolivar was confirmed in the supreme power. Having conducted his army, of which the British legion formed a third, over the almost impassable Cordilleras to New Granada, he achieved the victories of Tunja and Boyaca, and soon afterwards declared New Granada united with Venezuela as a republic, under the name of Colombia. Nevertheless, although Bolivar had a force at least twice as large as Morillo, the dissensions of the patriots prevented any concerted action, and it was only in June 1821 that the victory of Carabobo virtually ended the war in Venezuela; while it was not till July 1824 that the royalist troops were finally driven out of the country. The constitution of Colombia was adopted on August 30, 1821, and Bolivar was chosen president.
In 1822 Bolivar added Ecuador to the republic, and was summoned to help the Peruvians. Bolivar was named dictator of Peru, from which possession also the Spaniards were driven, after more than two years' fighting. In 1825 Bolivar visited Upper Peru, the name of which was changed in his honour to Bolivia. A constitution prepared by him in 1826, at the request of the Bolivians, excited dissatisfaction and even alarm, chiefly on account of its proposal to intrust the executive power to a president for life, without responsibility, and with power to name his successor. In September he intrusted the government of Peru to a council appointed by himself, and returned to quell a disturbance in Venezuela. His personal influence prevailed, and he was re-elected president, in spite of his expressed unwillingness; but meantime, in Peru his famous code had been renounced, and the Colombian troops had been expelled from Bolivia. His assumption of supreme power in August 1828 roused the apprehension of the republicans; the dread of a second Napoleon led to a conspiracy against his life; and in November 1829 Venezuela separated itself from Colombia. In consequence, Bolivar laid down his authority in April 1830, when the congress of Bogotá, now largely made up of his enemies, voted him a pension of 3000 dollars, on condition of his residing abroad. He died at San Pedro, near Santa Marta, 17th December 1830. Bolivar has been described as the Washington of South America. The difficulties of the war of liberation compelled him to assume a dictator's power, but there is no proof that he was ever insincere in his devotion to liberty; and in the service of his country he not only gained no wealth, but freely spent his own large fortune. In 1842 his remains were removed with great pomp to Caracás, where a monument has been erected to his memory; statues have been raised to him at Bogotá, Lima, and New York; and the Liberator's centenary was celebrated at Caracás with great enthusiasm in 1883, when sixteen foreign states were represented at the various functions, which extended over forty days.