Rondeau, José (1773–1844)

José Rondeau (b. 4 March 1773; d. 18 November 1844), military and political leader of the independence period in Argentina and Uruguay. Born in Buenos Aires, Rondeau was educated in Montevideo, where he spent his early years. His military career included appointments as commander in chief of the Argentine patriot army that fought against Upper Peru (1814), inspector general of Argentine troops (1820), and minister of the navy and of war in Uruguay in 1839. He also held numerous political offices, such as supreme director (1819–1820) in Buenos Aires and captain-general and governor (1828–1830) in Montevideo during the period of Uruguay's transition to independent statehood. Rondeau was thus instrumental in Platine independence and early nation building. Viewed as a native and patriot on both banks of the Río de la Plata, his remains were eventually entombed in the National Pantheon in the Uruguayan capital after negotiations with the Argentines. Rondeau was eulogized as a perfect gentleman by General José María Paz and as a just and honest man by Bartolomé Mitre.

See alsoWars of Independence, South America .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

León Rebollo Paz, ed., Varones de su tiempo, vistos por José María Paz (1969).

Vicente Osvaldo Cutolo, Nuevo diccionario biográfico argentino, vol. 6 (1968–1985), pp. 402-404.

Additional Bibliography

Ferrer, Jorge A. Brigadier general don José Casimiro Rondeau: Boceto biográfico. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Ciudad Argentina, 1997.

                                             Fidel Iglesias