British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . asonable influence might enter the Govern-ment with all his ambitions and ideals shining before himat their highest and freshest. OHiggins flung away thecares and details of his past, and entered the arena,handicapped by some twenty years. It would be an un-derstatement to say that he caught up with the othershand over fist: from that moment his career was mete-oric ! Advancing from rank to rank, he first defeated thefiery Araucanian Indians,
British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . asonable influence might enter the Govern-ment with all his ambitions and ideals shining before himat their highest and freshest. OHiggins flung away thecares and details of his past, and entered the arena,handicapped by some twenty years. It would be an un-derstatement to say that he caught up with the othershand over fist: from that moment his career was mete-oric ! Advancing from rank to rank, he first defeated thefiery Araucanian Indians, and then won the deep esteemof those untamable warriors. In 1777 he obtained hiscolonelcy, and shortly after he was made brigadier-gen-eral. Among his achievements at this period was thefounding of the town of Balenar, a name which he gaveto it in honor of his Irish birthplace, Ballinary. He him-self retained close and affectionate connection with thisname throughout; for when he was created a count hechose the style of Balenar for his title. The astounding velocity of 0 Higgins s upward careerwas now increased. Reaching the rank of major-general. EARLY BRITISH ADVENTURERS 113 in 1788, he was created Marquis of Osorno, and becameCaptain-General of Chile in 1792, while in 1794 he re-ceived a further military step to the grade of lieutenant-general. OHiggins was now Governor of Chile, and his greatabilities began to find their full scope. His most notablework was in connection with administrative reform, theabolition of slavery, the founding of towns, the construc-tion of roads and harbors, and other progressive meas-ures of the kind. Occasionally OHigginss liberal policy was startlingin its effects, and brought him into conflict with his su-perior, the mighty Viceroy of Peru. But 0 Higgins per-sisted in his views, and boldly argued with the King ofSpain himself, until the latter, yielding to the sound com-monsense of 0Higginss point of view, ended by accord-ing him his warm sup
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectsouthamericahistory
