Salaverry was born in 1805 in
Lima and studied in the
College of San Carlos in Lima. When
José de San Martín arrived in Peru in 1820, Salaverry left college despite his father's opposition, and made his way to
Huaura Province, where he volunteered to join the general and his forces. San Martin enlisted Salaverry as a cadet of the battalion of
Numancia, a campaign against the Spaniards. He led the Peruvian Cavalry at the battles of Junin and Ayacucho, helping secure the Independence of Peru and routing the Spanish Army. After the establishment of the republic of Peru, Salaverry rose rapidly in the army. At the age of twenty-eight, Salaverry obtained the rank of General Inspector of the Peruvian Army. When the garrison of
Callao revolted in January 1835, against then President
Luis Orbegoso, and pronounced in favor of La Fuente, Salaverry defeated the insurgents. Orbegoso appointed him governor of the fortress. But on February 23, Salaverry rose in arms against the government. After Orbegoso abandoned Lima, Salaverry occupied the capital and proclaimed himself "Supreme Chief of the Republic" on 25 February. In a few months he had possession of the south, and Orbegoso retreated with a small force to the northern provinces. A decree of Felipe Santiago Salaverry re-legalizes the importation of slaves from other Latin American countries. The line "no slave shall enter Peru without becoming free" is taken out of the Constitution in 1839. He fought the intervention of
Andrés Santa Cruz, leader of
Bolivia, with whom Orbegoso concluded a treaty giving Santa Cruz a third of Peru. Soon after, the Bolivian army invaded Peru, and Salaverry retreated to the city of
Arequipa. Salaverry obtained victories at the battle of Uchumayo, February 4, 1836, but on February 7, his forces were totally routed in Socabaya, a district of the city. After wandering for several days in his way to join the Peruvian Navy stationed at the coast at Islay in Arequipa, Salaverry was finally captured by General Miller, who delivered him to Santa Cruz, who ordered the execution of Salaverry and his General Staff. He died in Arequipa on February 19, 1836. Salaverry's field jacket, the one he wore when he was executed, is today shown at the Peruvian Museum of Gold at Monterrico. ==See also==