The New International Encyclopædia/O'Higgins, Bernardo

O'HIGGINS, Bernardo (1776-1842). A South American soldier, dictator of Chile. He was born at Chillan, was educated at Lima until he was fifteen and then in England, where he became intimate with Miranda; and after many strange adventures returned to Chile in 1802. He joined the patriots in 1810, and three years afterwards was appointed Carrera's successor. A breach between the two generals, which threatened civil war, seemed healed by the necessity of meeting the attack of the Spanish Army. O'Higgins, treacherously deserted by Carrera, was defeated at Rancagua (1814), and was forced to leave the country. In 1817 he returned as lieutenant of San Martin, and after the victory of the patriot army accepted the dictatorship, which his commander had refused. He was completely successful in driving out the Spaniards from Chile; but the aristocratic party distrusted his republican leanings and his attempts to introduce a liberal constitution. Under the followers of Carrera, they rebelled and deposed him in 1823. O'Higgins went to Lima, where he spent his remaining years.