Don Bernardo O'Higgins was born around 1776/78 in the small town of Chillán, Chile. He was the illegitimate
                     son of Ambrosio O'Higgins, a Spanish officer who would later hold the position of governor of Chile. His
                     father's position afforded Don O'Higgins the luxury of travel, and at the age of 12 he was sent to Peru for his
                     secondary education, only later to leave for Europe atthe age of 16.

                     At age 17, Don O'Higgins left to continue his studies in England, where he would meet several leading Latino
                     political activist. Of these activist was Francisco Miranda, who had established a secret Masonic lodge,
                     an organization whose members had sworn to fight for the independence of Latin America. Under the tutelage
                     of Miranda, and as a member of the Masonic lodge, Don O'Higgins gained a deep sense of nationalist pride.
                     Despite his father's position, who had now become Viceroy of Peru, Don Bernardo O'Higgins's travels only
                     reinforced his revolutionist ideas. During a final trip to Spain in 1799, Don O'Higgins met Latino clerics who
                     also favored independence, an encounter that acted to solidify his position.

                     In 1801, Don O'Higgins's father passed away, leaving him his estate near Chillán. Don O'Higgins returned
                     home to tend to the estate, which through his management prospered almost immediately. Several
                     years later, the opportunity to claim Chile's independence arose. In 1808, Napoleon I invaded
                     Spain and left Spain and its colonies in a vulnerable state. Throughout Latin America there was a wave of
                     revolutionary movements, and in Chile a national "junta" was established in Santiago. This "junta" soon replaced
                     the governor of Chile, and by 1811 Chile had its own congress. Don O'Higgins was a member of this
                     congress until an invasion by the Viceroy of Peru defeated the newly established government. Those in
                     power, including Don O'Higgins, fled into Argentina to regroup and spent three years in preparation for another
                     battle.

                     During this time, Don O'Higgins had moved up in the military rankings to General-in-Chief of the defensive
                     forces and prior to the battle with Peru, he also received the title of governor of the province of
                     Concepción. As General-in-Chief, Don O'Higginsreturned to Chile in 1817 alongside Don José de San
                     Martin and an Argentine army and engaged in a month of fighting before overpowering the Spanish. In
                     acknowledgment of his accomplishments, Don O'Higgins was elected interim supreme director.

                     During his time as director, Don O'Higgins succeeded inestablishing a national navy, and continued his goal to
                     free Latin America by invading Peru. While considered a monarchist by some, Don O'Higgins helped to
                     implement a government, republican in nature, that would be recognized by other emerging governments of
                     the time. His thoughts were that through friendly relations with other republics, namely the United States,
                     Chile would prosper as a nation and Latin America would have the independence they sought.

                     However, Don O'Higgins soon lost favor and wasforced to resign from the position of supreme director in
                     1823. As Don O'Higgins stated, "the talents whichconstitute the great generals, like the great poets, must
                     be born with us, and I am discerning enough to know that I lack these ..." Whether or not he was a great
                     general, or simply one of mediocre ability, Don O'Higgins dream of an independent Chile was realized
                     through his actions. From 1823 until his death, Don O'Higgins lived in exile in Peru.