‘In the last corner of the Earth where I am I will be ready to fight for freedom’.

On 25 February 1778, in the small town of Yapeyú, today part of the province of Corrientes, José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras was born, who would eventually become one of the key figures of South American independence. His legacy, based on the struggle for freedom and justice, is still alive and well in the history of Argentina and the entire region.

The son of Juan de San Martín and Gregoria Matorras, José was the youngest of five siblings. From his childhood, his life was marked by military discipline. At the age of five, his family moved to Spain, where he began his military training. In 1789, he joined the Murcia Regiment, and from then on he began his outstanding performance in the military, participating in many battles, including the famous victory of Bailén against Napoleon's troops. This earned him the promotion to lieutenant colonel and the gold medal, consolidating his prestige in the Spanish army.

However, in 1811, San Martín made a decision that would change the course of his life and the destiny of America: he requested and obtained his retirement from the Spanish army and travelled to London with the purpose of joining the independence movements of the continent. In 1812, he arrived in Buenos Aires, where he took a leading role in the emancipation struggle. He founded the Regiment of Grenadiers on Horseback and, with his leadership, won his first victory on American soil in the Battle of San Lorenzo, on 3 February 1813.

His strategic genius led him to plan and execute one of the most memorable feats in military history: the Crossing of the Andes. In 1817, with his army, he crossed the imposing mountain range and achieved independence from Chile after the victory at the Battle of Chacabuco. His campaign then extended to Peru, where in 1821 he proclaimed independence and took over the government as Protector of Peru.

In 1822, after a meeting with Simón Bolívar in Guayaquil, he decided to leave the field of his glory with an exemplary renunciation, in order to preserve unity and avoid conflict, and in 1824 he went into exile in Europe with his daughter Mercedes.

San Martín died on 17 August 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. His remains were repatriated in 1880 and rest in the Mausoleum of the Buenos Aires Cathedral, guarded by the Granaderos a Caballo, the regiment he founded.

His legacy transcends borders and time. He was not only a military strategist, but also a visionary leader who promoted values such as freedom, sacrifice and unity. Every August 17, Argentina commemorates the passing to immortality of the ‘Father of the Nation’, remembering his life and his unwavering commitment to the independence of America.

In the Casa Rosada there are some objects that recall his history and his struggle: the bust in the Presidential Hall, the tapestry in the Escalera Francia and a portrait in the anteroom of the Presidential Office. These symbols keep his memory and his example alive for future generations.

San Martin left an indelible teaching: freedom is a right and a duty. His phrase ‘You will be what you must be or you will be nothing’ continues to resonate as a call to commitment and responsibility in the construction of a fairer and freer society. Argentina vindicates the cultural legacy of the Father of the Nation