First British Invasion Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires



william carr beresford surrenders santiago de liniers during british invasions of río de la plata, painting charles fouqueray.


the napoleonic wars expanded south america. britain got naval supremacy victory @ battle of trafalgar , france within european continent. france attacked britain imposing continental system, locking continent british trade. needing new markets, britain attacked buenos aires , montevideo, 2 spanish colonies in south america (spain allied france in war). home riggs popham attempted invade buenos aires, without official orders. aware of conditions: if succeeded, britain honour deed, if failed, condemned it.


june 23, 1806, british expeditionary force of 1,700 men landed on left bank of río de la plata , invested buenos aires, had been abandoned viceroy. liniers remained incognito in city, staying in convent of dominicans, vowed offer @ altar of virgin flags of occupiers. secretly escaped montevideo, , of governor pascual ruiz huidobro galvanized people , raised troop of 1,200 volunteers. liberation army embarked on few schooners, joined french privateer corvette. landing on august 4, liniers , men rushed buenos aires, across marshes. city recovered after fierce street fighting ended storming of cathedral, had been fortified british. british general william carr beresford capitulated , offered sword; true liniers s vow, british flags (those of highlanders regiment , green st. helena) transferred church of convent of dominicans, still remain.



british naval red ensign surrendered during second british invasion in 1807 , offered viceroy santiago de liniers, in gratitude victory, our lady of rosary @ santo domingo church, in córdoba, argentina.








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