Foreign Fighters
The North American Independence is not an exclusive American or Iberian process. This event attracts a wealth of important entrepreneurial and fortune seekers from other nationalities. The emancipation process will count on productive foreign people, mainly British and North American that will participate in a crucial way in the contents.
In addition to the citizens that enroll as soldiers in the army of their host country, other foreign military have an important role as leaders. That is the case of Thomas Alexander Cochrane, 10th Count of Dundonald and Marquis of Maranhao (Annsfield, United Kingdom, 1775-London, United Kingdom, 1860) known as Lord Cochrane who incarnates the role of an adventurer and an English merchant that after passing through the British army seeks and finds fame and fortune in the independence campaigns of Chile and Brasil.
Another example is Gregor MacGregor (Edimburg, United Kingdom, 1786- Caracas, Venezuela, 1845) an Scottish division General who decides to cross over the Atlantic and take part on the independence process of Venezuela, participating along Francisco de Miranda and Antonio Nariño (Bogotá, Colombia, 1765- Leyva, Colombia, 1823) in the fights of New Granada, adding to the expeditions of Los Cayos del Libertador. In 1820, he heads to the coast of Nicaragua were he proclaims Indian Chief of Poyais.
William Brown (Foxford, Ireland, 1777-Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1857) is the first Irish man to become Admiral of Argentina´s navy. He practiced with a Letter of Marque and Reprisal at the Pacific Coasts between 1815 and 1816. He will also hold the leadership of the republican fleet against Brazil during the confrontations that took place between 1825 and 1827. After this service he will retire from the military life until Franco-British siege from Buenos Aires at the end of the 1830s. With this action he will return to the front line of the battle with a successful participation at the Montevideo blocking in 1842.
The English marine William Bowles (1780-1857) is in Rio de la Plata defending de commercial interest of Britain. During his stay he meets José de San Martín who will become his friend besides being a colleague. In 1818, Bowles and his fleet from Valparaiso will support the expedition lead by José de San Martin towards Peru.
