Francisco de la Lastra
| Francisco de la Lastra | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 1st Supreme Director of Chile | |
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In office March 14, 1814 – July 23, 1814 |
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| Preceded by | Antonio José de Irisarri |
| Succeeded by | José Miguel Carrera |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 4, 1777 Santiago, Chile |
| Died | May 13, 1852 (aged 74) Santiago, Chile |
General Francisco de la Lastra y de la Sotta (October 4, 1777 – May 13, 1852) was a Chilean military officer and the first Supreme Director of Chile (1814).
He was born in Santiago de Chile, the son of Antonio de la Lastra Cortés and of María de la Sotta y Águila. As a young man, he was sent to Spain to pursue his studies, and served in the Royal Spanish Navy, was promoted to navy lieutenant in 1803, and remained till 1807. He returned to Chile in 1811. From the very beginning was a part of the independence movement that swept Chile from 1810 onwards. Once back he held different military assignments, enlisted in the revolutionary army, and was appointed political and military governor of Valparaiso. He organized in that port the militia and naval reserve, and also established arsenals for its defence.
In 1811, he was a substitute Deputy (representing Concepcion) to the first National Congress, that met between July 4 and December 2 of that year. On October 26, 1812, he was also one of the signataries of the Constitutional Regulation of 1812. He was named governor of Valparaiso and also was the first commander of the just created Chilean navy between 1812 and 1814. Since he had relations with the Carrera family (his brother, Manuel de la Lastra was married to Javiera Carrera, the sister of José Miguel Carrera) de la Lastra assumed power after the first (second for some) dictatorship of José Miguel Carrera, while he was going to fight against the Spanish troops commanded by Antonio Pareja and later by Gabino Gainza.
On March 14, 1814, he was chosen Supreme Director of Chile and promoted to full colonel. He governed with this title until July 23, 1814. He then was forced to sign the Treaty of Lircay with the Spanish and to change back the flag created by Carrera to the Spanish flag. He was deposed as a consequence of this event. At this point Carrera came back to Santiago and started his second (third for some authorities) dictatorship. After the defeat of Rancagua, on October 2, 1814, Francisco de la Lastra Lastra was taken prisoner and sent to Juan Fernández Islands (a group of islands located west to América) where he suffered many privations.
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