Origins & Early Life

Rafael José Urdaneta y Farías (October 24, 1788 – August 23, 1845) was a Venezuelan general and hero of the Spanish American wars of independence. After overthrowing President Joaquín Mosquera in a 1830 military coup, he served as President of Gran Colombia from 1830 until 1831 when he was overthrown by José María Obando and José Hilario López. He was an ardent supporter of Simón Bolívar and one of his most trusted and loyal allies. Rafael Urdaneta was born in Maracaibo, Captaincy General of Venezuela, to a prominent family of Spanish descent on October 24, 1788.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was a son of the marriage between Miguel Jerónimo de Urdaneta y Troconis and María Alejandrina de Farías. He began his elementary education in Maracaibo, and his secondary education in Caracas. Prior to the independence war, he was a student of Latin and philosophy. He married Dolores Vargas París, a young and renowned heroine of Santa Fe, Gran Colombia, on August 31, 1822. Before Gran Colombia was dissolved in 1831, the marriage had enjoyed much popularity.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, following the dissolution and the establishment of a dictatorship in the Republic of New Granada, they were forced to flee the country...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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