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Street Wise
Avenida Salaverry named for Executed Patriot
By Virginia Vickers Braun

By the time he was executed in the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa at age 30, Felipe Santiago Salaverry had spent half of his life in the military, first fighting for Peru's independence and later trying to prevent a plan by Interim President Luis José de Orbegoso to unite Peru with Bolivia.

Born in Lima in 1806, Salaverry attended the College of San Carlos and, against the wishes of his father, left his studies to join the army at age 15 to help José de San Martín fight for Peru's independence from Spain. He rose to the rank of captain and fought in the Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824. Later he achieved the rank of general. After serving as sub-prefect of Tacna in 1831, he was arrested for conspiring against President Augustín Gamarra. Three times he managed to escape his captors by converting his guards to his cause. Eventually at age 28 he allied himself with Luis José de Orbegoso, interim president of Peru. While Orbegoso was away from Lima, Salaverry put down a revolt by the army garrison of Callao and shortly thereafter named himself “supreme chief” of the republic. His presidency lasted only one year. When Orbegoso agreed to join with Bolivian General Andrés de Santa Cruz to unite their two countries, Salaverry, who opposed the plan, marched toward Arequipa to confront their forces. He met defeat on Feb. 7, 1836, and was shot to death 11 days later, after receiving a preemptory trial at the hands of Santa Cruz.

His widow, who was left destitute, fled to Chile with Salaverry's illegitimate son, Carlos Augusto, whom she was raising, and their other son, Felipe. Later they returned to Peru under the protection of Gamara and Ramón Castilla, who obtained a pension for her in recognition of her husband's service to the country. Carlos Augusto Salaverry (1830-1891) grew up to become a noted Peruvian poet.