Liniers, Jacques de

Liniers, Jacques de, Span. Santiago de Liniers y de Bremond (säntēä'gō &thstrok;ā lēnēārs' ē &thstrok;ā brāmōnd') [key], 1753–1810, French officer in Spanish service, viceroy of Río de la Plata. After a military and naval career in Europe, he was transferred to the Río de la Plata (1788) as a Spanish naval officer. In 1806 he recaptured Buenos Aires from British forces under William Carr Beresford. The viceroy had fled, and Liniers was named commander in chief and lieutenant to the viceroy. When a second British invasion occurred the following year, Liniers called a junta of war, including Manuel Belgrano, which deposed the viceroy (Feb. 10, 1807). Despite the rout of the creole army outside Buenos Aires, the hastily organized defenses of the city proved effective (July 5, 1807); the British general, John Whitelocke, surrendered. In May, 1808, the appointment of Liniers as viceroy became known; he served until Aug., 1809, though there were attempts by his political enemies to oust him. After retirement, he became involved in a counterrevolutionary plot and was executed.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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