By Eric G. L. Pinzelli,
After graduating from the Order of Malta military school at age 15, Jacques de Liniers (from a very ancient French noble family) was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant of Cavalry in the Royal-Piémont Regiment at Carcassonne, France. In 1774 Liniers enlisted as a volunteer in the Spanish campaigns against the Moors in Algiers.
At the campaign's conclusion, Liniers took an exam as a Midshipman in Cádiz, to serve as a volunteer for the Spanish Crown. In 1775 he earned the rank of Ensign in the Spanish Navy. In 1776, under the orders of Pedro de Cevallos, Liniers sailed to the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and took part on the occupation of Santa Catarina Island in Brazil and the attack on Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay).
In 1779, Liniers was an officer on the San Vicente which part of the Spanish-French Naval Squadron fighting the British Royal Navy in South America. Liniers distinguished himself during the American Revolution. In 1780, with a few sloops, he captured a three-masted ship of 24 guns. In 1782, during the siege of Port Mahon, under fire, he moved to where two British ships had collided, which were laden with arms and ammunition. He seized the ships and conveyed them to the Spanish lines. He was promoted to Frigate Captain.
A few months later Liniers took part in a new expedition against the city of Algiers, in North Africa. When Madrid tried to negotiate with the local dey, Liniers was entrusted with the mission. The Spanish court rewarded Liniers for his diplomatic successes, promoting him to the rank of captain and entrusting him with the command of the Río de la Plata in 1788 to organize a flotilla of gunships.
In June 23, 1806, a British expeditionary force of 1,700 men landed on the left bank of the Río de la Plata and invaded Buenos Aires, which had been abandoned by the Viceroy. Liniers remained in the city in disguise, staying in the Dominican convent. At the altar of the Virgin, he vowed to return with the flags of the occupiers. He escaped to Montevideo and, with the help of its governor Pascual Ruiz Huidobro, galvanized the people, raising a troop of 1,200 volunteers.
He embarked with this liberation army on a few schooners, which joined a French privateer corvette and local militia. Landing on August 4, Liniers and his men rushed across the marshes to Buenos Aires. The city was recovered after fierce street fighting that ended with the storming of the cathedral, which had been fortified by the British. British General William Carr Beresford capitulated and offered his sword; true to Liniers's vow, British flags (those of the Highlanders regiment and Green St. Helena) were transferred to the church of the convent of the Dominicans, where they are still held.
When a second larger British invasion with 11,000 men was imminent, the Real Audiencia of Buenos Aires confirmed Liniers as commander-in-chief, and appointed him as interim viceroy.
The British forced entered into the city and found a strong resistance, and many battalions were defeated, while others tried to resist at strategic points. Whitelocke suggested a truce, which was rejected by Liniers, who also attacked the British ships within cannon range. After suffering 311 killed, 679 wounded and 1,808 captured or missing Whitelocke's defeat was complete, and Liniers demanded that all British forces be removed from the territories of Viceroyalty, including the Banda Oriental, in no more than 2 months, as well as an exchange of prisoners. Whitelocke accepted the conditions and surrendered.There was a large number of celebrations after the victory against the British. Liniers was officially appointed as viceroy in May 1808, and awarded the title of "Count of Buenos Aires".
When the May Revolution took place in 1810, Liniers decided to come out of his retirement and organized a monarchist uprising in Córdoba. Jacques de Liniers was defeated, captured, and executed without trial.
Painting: Reconquest of Buenos Aires by Charles Fouqueray, Museo Histórico Nacional, Buenos Aires.
