Martín Jacobo Thompson (1777–1819) was an Argentine patriot, who had an active participation during the English invasions, and the Revolution of May. He is considered the founder of the Argentine Naval Prefecture.[1]
Martín Jacobo Thompson | |
|---|---|
 portrait of Martín Jacobo Thompson | |
| Capitán del Puerto de Buenos Aires | |
| In office 1810–1815 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Martín Jacobo José Thompson y López Escribano April 23, 1777 Buenos Aires, Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata |
| Died | October 23, 1819 At sea |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Spouse | Mariquita Sánchez |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | naval Officer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spain — until 1810 United Provinces of the River Plate |
| Branch/service | Spanish Navy Argentine Navy |
| Years of service | 1800-1819 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | British invasions of the Río de la Plata May Revolution |
Biography edit
Martín Jacobo Thompson was educated at the Royal College of San Carlos, and also in London, England. In 1796, he entered the Naval Academy in Ferrol. On July 11, 1800, he began his military career in the Spanish navy.[2] Thompson had participated in the defense of the city during the British invasion in Montevideo, where he was wounded, and in Rio de la Plata, where captured several enemy brigs,[clarification needed] being promoted to the rank of ensign of the Spanish Armada.[3]
He was one of the promoters of the May Revolution of 1810, and attended the Cabildo Abierto on May 22. He was appointed by the Primera Junta as Captain of the port of Buenos Aires, where he served until 1815.[4]
In 1813 Thompson held the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was promoted to colonel in 1816. That year, he was appointed by the Supreme Director, Ignacio Álvarez Thomas, to a diplomatic mission to United States. He arrived in Washington, D.C., in August 1816, with the intention of meeting with President James Madison. However, Madison was on vacation, so Thompson decided to travel to New York City, where he started negotiations for the purchase of war material.[5]
Martín Jacobo Thompson died on October 23, 1819, at sea.[6]
Family edit
Martín Jacobo was the son of William Paul Thompson, born in 1721 in London, and Tiburcia Valeriana López, a criolla, born in Buenos Aires, who was a descendant of Pedro Sánchez Rendón. His father had arrived in Buenos Aires in 1750. He belonged to the elite of English merchants, who were established in Cádiz.[7] Martín Thompson had married on July 29, 1805, with Mariquita Sánchez, daughter of Cecilio Sánchez de Velasco and María Magdalena Trillo y Cárdenas, belonging to a distinguished family.[8]
His wife descended from distinguished lineages of the Río de la Plata, including Melchor Casco de Mendoza, and the Portuguese family of Gonzalez de Mora and Ines Nuñez Cabral (sister of Margarida Cabral de Melo). Thompson and Mariquita Sánchez were parents of five children: Clementina (1805), Juan Thompson b. 1809 (educated in Europe,[9] Magdalena (1811), Florencia Martina (1812), and Albina Dolores born on February 28, 1815.
References edit
- ^ Trámite parlamentario, Issues 139-180, Argentina. Congreso de la Nación. Cámara de Diputados de la Nación. Secretaría Parlamentaria, 1995
- ^ Martín Jacobo Thompson: ensayo para la biografía de un marino criollo, Volume 11, Enrique González Lonzième, 1970
- ^ Archivo del general José Miguel Carrera, Armando Moreno Martín, 1999
- ^ Color De Rosas, Eugenio Rosasco, 1992, ISBN 9789500707411
- ^ Congreso Internacional de Historia de América: actas / Academia Nacional de la Historia, Part 7, La Academia, 1966, 1966
- ^ Ciudad de angeles: historia del cementerio de la Recoleta, Omar López Mato, 2001, ISBN 9789874335364
- ^ Mariquita Sánchez: Vida política y sentimental
- ^ La larga lucha de los argentinos: y cómo la cuentan las diversas corrientes, Norberto Galasso, 1995, ISBN 9789505818075
- ^ Don Juan María Guriérrez, el hombre de mayo, Ernesto Morales, 1937