Saturnino Canaveri

Saturnino Canaveri (1855–1939) was an Argentine military man, who served as officer of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, participating in the actions against the Indians during the Conquest of the Desert.

Personal life
Canaveri was born 1855 in Buenos Aires. His parents were Lt. Francisco Canaveris and Ofelia Segrestán (inhabitant of Temperley), daughter of Jorge Segrestan and María Uriarte, belonging to a French and Creole family. Through his father he was a descendant of Domingo Brignole Pelliza, born by 1700 in Genoa, who served as Mayordomo in the Cabildo de Buenos Aires. His maternal paternal great-grandfather had been the sergeant major Francisco Pelliza, an honorable member of the Argentine army, who participated in the wars for independence.

Saturnino was married to her cousin Carmen Canavery, born in Carmen de Areco, daughter of Adolfo Canavery and Carmen Martínez, belonging to an old family of the town of Areco. He and his wife had several daughters (Aurora, Ana María and Maria Esther Canaveri, born in 1898). His house was located on Calle Estados Unidos 1641, neighborhood of Monserrat.

His cousin, Pedro Jorge Segrestán had served as a lieutenant in the army. He was married in the parish Nuestra Señora de la Piedad to Leonor Casabal, daughter of Rufino Casabal and María Barrut. in 1895, Segrestán and his family lived in the city of Lomas de Zamora.

Through the Segrestan family, Saturnino Canaveri were related-in-law to Gregorio Lemos, born in Chile (son of Juan Gregorio Lemos), married with Luisa Segrestán. Another important member of the Buenos Aires society linked to the Canaveri Segrestán family was Luis Guillón, born in 1851 in Lyon, husband of Emilia Segrestán, a cousin of Saturnino's mother. He was the founder of the city of Luis Guillón in Esteban Echeverría. Saturnino Canaveri belonged to a military family, his grandfather Sinforoso Canaveris and great-grandfather Manuel Canaveris, had been members of the militia. Sinforoso is erroneously cited as "Remigio", he served as second lieutenant in the 4° batallón de infanteria, serving also in the Batallón de Voluntarios Rebajados de Buenos Aires, a military unit of Juan Manuel de Rosas, formed with former members of the Desert Campaigns of 1830.

His great grandfather, Manuel Canaveris took part in the first part of the wars for independence, and served for a brief period as Lieutenant in the Regiment of Patricians. Manuel and Sinforoso Canaveris were also linked to the commercial business and agriculture. Sinforoso was the owner of a Barraca de Frutos, dedicated to the distribution of vegetables in the Monserrat area.

Saturnino was brother of Héctor Canaveri and cousin of Ángel Canavery, two outstanding members of the army. He also was related-in-law of Baldomero Lamela Luengo, an officer of the army who had participated in the Paraguayan War.

Career
After the death of his father, Saturnino Canaveri was enlisted in the 2° Regimiento de Caballería de Línea (2nd Line Cavalry Regiment). Towards the year of 1877, he served as alférez in Guaminí, province of Buenos Aires. In 1878, he served as a lieutenant, taking part of Campaigns to the desert organized by the Ejército Argentino against the aborigines.

In 1879, Saturnino Canaveri had been commissioned by the army to pursue the cacique Ancapi Ñancucheo, a brave chief of Pehuenche origin. Ñancucheo had their huts on the Chimehuin River, time later he served in the Argentine Army. Canaveri also went out in pursuit of Antener (brave chief of Boroano origin), he led an expedition of forty soldiers, in the Chimehuin River. The expedition counted on two baqueanos who officiated as guides.

His military missions also include, the Combate de Aluminé, who was occurred on February 18, 1883, during tasks of exploration and topographical recognition, commanding by General Conrado Villegas in the Río Negro and Neuquén.

Until 1883, Canaveri served in the detachment the General Roca, requesting his leave, he began to provide services in Buenos Aires that same year. He obtained his promotion to Captain in 1885, and promoted to Major on June 26, 1888.

During the Revolution of 90, the now Major Canaveri, remained loyal to the government. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1892, becoming part of the reserve forces of the Argentine army in 1896.

In his long military career, Saturnino Canaveri was awarded several medals for his participation in the military campaigns of Río Negro, Chaco Province, Junín de los Andes, Buenos Aires Province and San Luis. He was retired from the army with the rank of lieutenant colonel on January 5, 1900, after thirty-three years of active service,