Carrera, José Miguel

(1785–1821) was an important leader during the first period of the Chilean War of Independence. His opposition to the leaders of independent Argentina and Chile, San Martin and O’Higgins respectively, forced him to live in exile in Montevideo. From there he went to Argentina, to join the struggle of the Federalists against the Unitarians. Carrera’s small army, however, was left isolated in the Province of Buenos Aires from the other Federalist forces. In this difficult situation, Carrera decided to cross native-controlled lands all the way to Chile to once and for all overthrow O’Higgins. Argentine politicians opposed his passage to Chile and numerically superior forces defeated Carrera’s men near Mendoza. Carrera was betrayed, captured and executed.