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During his lifetime, Bolivar became known as ‘El Libertador’ through helping countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia all achieve independence. Bolivar acted as a political dictator, but to some extent helped lay the foundations of democracy in Latin America. From 1819 to 1830 he served as president of the Hispanic-American republic known as Gran Colombia.

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Simón Bolívar penned two political treatises—the Manifiesto de Cartagena (“Cartagena Manifesto”) and the Carta de Jamaica (“Letter from Jamaica”)—encouraging the people of South America to rebel against Spanish colonial rule.

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He was the second son and fourth child of Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte and his wife Maria de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco, yes the parents also have long names. He was born on 24th July 1783 and his full name was Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios.

It was a common practice during this era for people to have long names as it was believed that the more names you had the less likely you were to be attacked by evil spirits. However, this came to an end in the 19th century with naming regulations being introduced.

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Bolívar fought 100 battles, of which 79 were important ones, and during his campaigns rode on horseback 70,000 kilometers, which is 10 times more than Hannibal, three times more than Napoleon, and twice as much as Alexander the Great.

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Simon Bolivar was Roman Catholic. He was also a prominent freemason. When attacking Spanish churches he sometimes had their wealth stripped out. In his writings, he sometimes invoked God, but mainly talked of the political struggle.

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wealthy aristocratic parents in Venezuela. His parents died when he was young, and he was largely brought up by his nurse, family friends and a series of instructors and educators. One of the most influential of his teachers was Don Simon Rodriguez, who taught the young Bolivar about the ideals of liberty, enlightenment and freedom. When he was 14, his mentor Rodriguez had to flee the country because he was under suspicion of plotting against the Spanish rulers. Bolivar entered the military academy Milicias de Veraguas, where he developed a passion for military strategy.

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Achievements of Bolivar

Bolivar successfully liberated modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela.

Successful in gaining support for his army of liberation and turning the tide of public opinion to support the idea of full independence.

Military successful in leading his army of very mixed units in defeating Spanish forces.

Held together forces of liberation through his strong will – even in the face of adversity.

Wrote a constitution which developed ideas of democracy.

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Simón Bolívar was born July 24 , 1783 . He would later die of tuberculosis on December 17, 1830, at age 47. Some people believe Bolívar was assassinated. In 2010 Hugo Chávez, then president of Venezuela, ordered the exhumation of Bolívar's body for investigation of the cause of death.

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Bolivian, Peruvian, Venezuelan  -  Venezuelan capital city Caracas