José Francisco Gana
Encyclopedia
General José Francisco Gana López (November 13, 1791—January 20, 1864) was a Chile
an military and political figure, who took part in the Peruvian War of Independence. José Francisco Gana was of Basque
descent.
, the son of Agustín Gana Darrigrandi and of Dolores López Guerrero. He entered military service in 1806 as a cadet, and in 1808 was promoted to 2nd lieutenant of the king's regiment, in which he served during the apprehension of an English invasion in 1809. In 1812 he quit the Spanish Army when his father was arrested and sent as a prisoner to Callao
for participating in the preparations for the Chilean War of Independence. He decided to accompany his father to prison in Peru
, and while there he joined a prisoner's revolt, was captured and tortured.
, under the orders of General José de San Martín
. Gana with his battalion captured the City of Huaras with the whole garrison, and, as a consequence, the provinces of Trujillo, Lambayeque
, and Piura
pronounced for the insurrection, leading to the whole northern portion of Peru being wrestled from the rule of the viceroy. The viceroy, José de La Serna
, was forced to evacuate his capital, Lima
, on July 6th, and on the 12th San Martin occupied the City. Independence was solemnly proclaimed on July 28th.
Meanwhile Gana took part in the assault of Callao
, on August 14th, and after the final surrender of September 21st, he was promoted to major. Gana participated in General Sucre's expedition to the south, and commanded a column that attacked the Spanish forces at Quilca (August 14, 1823), and, notwithstanding the loss of one third of his troops, routed the enemy and pursued him toward Arequipa
.
In October 1823, Gana returned to Chile, and in 1825 was sent with his battalion under Colonel Sanchez to garrison the city of Talca against the attacks of the bands of the Pincheira brothers, whom he surprised and defeated. In December of the same year he was promoted to colonel, and his battalion formed part of General Ramón Freire's expedition to Chiloé, which archipelago was still held by the Spanish under General Antonio Quintanilla
. He participated in the decisive Battle of Bellavista (January 14th, 1826), and was commissioned by Freire to sign the capitulation of Pudeto on January 19th which surrendered the rest of Chilean territory to the independentist forces. During the Chilean Civil War of 1829, he joined the liberal forces under General Ramón Freire, and, after their defeat at the Battle of Lircay (April 17th, 1830) declined to serve under the government of the conservatives, and retired from active service.
, and appointed director of the military Academy. Twice he was elected Deputy
for Talca in congress, and in 1849 Gana was appointed intendant of the province of Atacama. In September 1851, President Manuel Montt
named him Minister of War and Navy, and in 1853 Gana was appointed president of the military court of appeals, being promoted in 1854 to brigadier-general. At the same time he became dean of the philological faculty of the Universidad de Chile, a literary honor which no other Chilean general has ever attained. In 1856 he was sent as minister (ambassador) to Ecuador
, and on his return in 1857 again took charge of the Ministry of War and Navy. In 1858 he was sent on a special mission to Spain. In 1860 he was elected senator of the republic, and in 1861 appointed counsellor of state. Gana died in his country estate in Nuñoa, in 1864.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an military and political figure, who took part in the Peruvian War of Independence. José Francisco Gana was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent.
Early life
Gana was born in SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, the son of Agustín Gana Darrigrandi and of Dolores López Guerrero. He entered military service in 1806 as a cadet, and in 1808 was promoted to 2nd lieutenant of the king's regiment, in which he served during the apprehension of an English invasion in 1809. In 1812 he quit the Spanish Army when his father was arrested and sent as a prisoner to Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
for participating in the preparations for the Chilean War of Independence. He decided to accompany his father to prison in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and while there he joined a prisoner's revolt, was captured and tortured.
Peru
In 1820, Gana entered the service again in PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, under the orders of General José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
. Gana with his battalion captured the City of Huaras with the whole garrison, and, as a consequence, the provinces of Trujillo, Lambayeque
Lambayeque Province
The Lambayeque Province is the largest of three provinces of the Lambayeque Region in Peru.- Boundaries :*North Piura Region*East Ferreñafe Province and Chiclayo Province*South Pacific Ocean*West Piura Region...
, and Piura
Piura Province
Piura is a landlocked province in the Piura Region in northwestern Peru. Its capital, the city of Piura, is also the regional capital. The province is the most populous in the region as well as its center of economic activity.- Boundaries :...
pronounced for the insurrection, leading to the whole northern portion of Peru being wrestled from the rule of the viceroy. The viceroy, José de La Serna
José de la Serna e Hinojosa
José de la Serna e Hinojosa, 1st Count of los Andes was a Spanish general and colonial official. He was the last Spanish viceroy of Peru to exercise effective power .-Background:...
, was forced to evacuate his capital, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, on July 6th, and on the 12th San Martin occupied the City. Independence was solemnly proclaimed on July 28th.
Meanwhile Gana took part in the assault of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
, on August 14th, and after the final surrender of September 21st, he was promoted to major. Gana participated in General Sucre's expedition to the south, and commanded a column that attacked the Spanish forces at Quilca (August 14, 1823), and, notwithstanding the loss of one third of his troops, routed the enemy and pursued him toward Arequipa
Arequipa
Arequipa is the capital city of the Arequipa Region in southern Peru. With a population of 836,859 it is the second most populous city of the country...
.
Chile
Antonio Quintanilla
Antonio Quintanilla was a Spanish brigadier and Governor of Chiloé from 1820-1826....
. He participated in the decisive Battle of Bellavista (January 14th, 1826), and was commissioned by Freire to sign the capitulation of Pudeto on January 19th which surrendered the rest of Chilean territory to the independentist forces. During the Chilean Civil War of 1829, he joined the liberal forces under General Ramón Freire, and, after their defeat at the Battle of Lircay (April 17th, 1830) declined to serve under the government of the conservatives, and retired from active service.
Later life
In 1842, Gana was called into service again by the government of General Manuel BulnesManuel Bulnes
-Sources:* Juan B. Alberdi, Biografia de general Bulnes...
, and appointed director of the military Academy. Twice he was elected Deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
for Talca in congress, and in 1849 Gana was appointed intendant of the province of Atacama. In September 1851, President Manuel Montt
Manuel Montt
Manuel Francisco Antonio Julián Montt Torres was a Chilean statesman and scholar. He was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861.-Biography:...
named him Minister of War and Navy, and in 1853 Gana was appointed president of the military court of appeals, being promoted in 1854 to brigadier-general. At the same time he became dean of the philological faculty of the Universidad de Chile, a literary honor which no other Chilean general has ever attained. In 1856 he was sent as minister (ambassador) to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and on his return in 1857 again took charge of the Ministry of War and Navy. In 1858 he was sent on a special mission to Spain. In 1860 he was elected senator of the republic, and in 1861 appointed counsellor of state. Gana died in his country estate in Nuñoa, in 1864.