Carlos María de Alvear (25 October 1789 – 3 November 1852) was an Argentine soldier, statesman and diplomat who served as the second Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata from 9 January to 15 April 1815. He played a leading role in the capitulation of royalist-held Montevideo in June 1814 and later commanded the republican army in the Cisplatine War, winning the Battle of Ituzaingó (20 February 1827).
Early life
Alvear was born in Santo Ángel (today Santo Ângelo, Brazil), son of Spanish naval officer Diego de Alvear y Ponce de León and María Balbastro. An authority record of the Archivo General de la Nación gives his full baptismal name as Carlos Antonio José Gabino del Ángel de la Guarda Alvear.
In 1804 he travelled with his family to Spain in a four-frigate convoy. On 5 October 1804, off Cape Santa María, a British squadron intercepted the Spanish ships; the frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes exploded during the action, killing Alvear’s mother and siblings. Contemporary and later accounts note that Carlos, then a teenager, was aboard the flagship Medea with his father and witnessed the explosion.
War of Independence
After service in Spain during the Peninsular War, Alvear went to Buenos Aires with other officers in 1812. The National Historical Museum notes his participation among the officers associated with the so-called Lautaro Lodge, a secret society that supported the revolutionary government.
He was active in operations around Montevideo. Following decisive naval victories by Guillermo Brown in May 1814, negotiations and military pressure led to the capitulation of Montevideo in late June; Alvear entered the city with the besieging army on 23 June 1814.
Supreme Director (1815)
On 9 January 1815 the Assembly chose Alvear as Supreme Director; he resigned in mid-April amid military unrest and political opposition. He later served again as Argentina’s minister to the United States under Juan Manuel de Rosas. Alvear died in New York City on 3 November 1852 and was buried at La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.