Francisco de Miranda
The "forerunner of Latin American independence," who took part in both the American War of Independence and the French Revolution.
Life
Three revolutions
Born in Caracas, Miranda joined the Spanish army as a young man and fought in operations supporting the American War of Independence. He then traveled through Europe and America, meeting Washington, Hamilton and others, and served as a general in the French Revolution; his name is carved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Expeditions
He devoted his life to the independence of Spanish America. In 1806 he led an expedition that landed in Venezuela but returned in failure. After the Caracas revolution of 1810 he came home, and in 1811 he pushed Venezuela to declare independence and became commander-in-chief.
Died in prison
In 1812, after the republic's army suffered defeats, he signed a capitulation with the Spaniards; Bolívar and others regarded this as treason and handed him over to the Spaniards, and he died in 1816 in a prison in Cádiz, Spain.
Legacy
Miranda is called "the forerunner of Latin American independence," and the yellow, blue and red tricolor he designed is still the basis of the flags of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.
Did you know? He was one of the few people to take part in the American War of Independence, the French Revolution and the Latin American independence movement.
Key dates
- 1781Fought in support of American independence
- 1792Served as a general in the French Revolution
- 1806Failed expedition to Venezuela
- 1811Pushed for Venezuelan independence
- 1812Surrendered and was handed over to the Spaniards
- 1816Died in prison in Cádiz