Campos, Luis María (1838–1907)

Luis María Campos (b. 1838; d. 1907), Argentine military leader. Born in Buenos Aires, Campos entered the army in 1859 as a sublieutenant in the national guard regiment. He fought in the battles of Cepeda and Pavón, which ended the long struggle among the provinces, earning the rank of sergeant major. Campos served throughout the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870), perhaps the bloodiest in Latin American history. He fought at Paso de la Patría, Estero Bellaco, and Curupayty. Seriously wounded at San Ignacio, Campos was sent to the province of San Juan to recover. Returning to the war, he fought at most major engagements, including Lomas Valentinas and Angostura. Late in the war he was decorated by the commander in chief of Allied Forces, Conde D'eu, for his bravery.

Between 1870 and 1873 Campos fought against Ricardo López Jordán, the rebellious caudillo of Entre Ríos. In 1875 he was named inspector general of arms, and in 1892 he was appointed chief of staff of the army and then minister of war and navy until 1896. In March 1896 he mobilized the national guard for a possible international conflict, and in 1898 he again became minister of war. At this time the Army War College was established under his supervision. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1899 and retired in January 1906.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ejército argentino: Cronología militar argentina, 1806–1980 (1982).

Felix Best, Historia de las guerras argentinas, 2 vols. (1983).

Additional Bibliography

Morales Gorleri, Claudio. Luis María Campos: El General Petit. Buenos Aires: Edivérn, 2005.

                                       Robert Scheina