Juan Antonio Lavalleja



Juan Antonio Lavalleja (June 24, 1784 – October 22, 1853) was an Uruguayan revolutionary and political figure. Today's Lavalleja Department is named after him.

Pre-Independence role
He led the group called "Thirty-Three Orientals" during Uruguay's Declaration of Independence from Brazil in 1825. His leadership of this group has taken on somewhat mythic proportions in popular Uruguayan historiography.

Post-Independence career
After Uruguay's independence in 1825, Lavalleja sought the presidency as a rival to Fructuoso Rivera in 1830, who won. In protest to his loss, Lavalleja staged revolts. He was part of a triumvirate chosen in 1852 to govern Uruguay, but died shortly after his accession to power.

Historical legacy
Lavalleja is remembered as a rebel who led the fight against Brazil. But as one of the major figures in early, post-independence Uruguayan history he is identified as a skilled but reactionary warrior who contributed to the culture of intermittent civil war which dogged Uruguay for much of the 19th century.

Family
Lavalleja married Ana Monterroso in 1817; she was sister of José Benito Monterroso, cleric and secretary of José Gervasio Artigas.