Edelmiro Mayer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Germán Edelmiro Mayer
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Edelmiro Mayer (c. 1873)
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| Governor of the national territory of Santa Cruz | |
| In office 1893–1897 |
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| Preceded by | Ramon Lista |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 28, 1834 Buenos Aires |
| Died | January 4, 1897 (aged 62) Rio Gallegos |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Profession | Soldier Writer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | State of Buenos Aires United States of America Mexico |
| Battles/wars | Argentine Civil Wars American Civil War French intervention in Mexico |
Germán Edelmiro Mayer (born May 28, 1834 – died January 4, 1897) was an important Argentine soldier, writer, and leader. He fought in several major wars, including the Argentine Civil Wars, the American Civil War, and against the French in Mexico. Later in his life, Mayer became the third governor of the Santa Cruz territory. He served in this role from 1893 until he passed away in 1897.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Germán Edelmiro Mayer was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1834. His father was a typographer from Hungary, and his mother was from Spain. When he was 18, his family moved to New York in the United States, where they lived for several years.
In 1858, Mayer returned to Argentina. He joined the army of the State of Buenos Aires. He fought in important battles like Cepeda and Pavon. These battles were part of the Argentine Civil Wars. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a captain and then a major. After some disagreements with his commanders, Mayer decided to leave the army. In late 1861, he went back to the United States.
Fighting in the American Civil War
When Mayer returned to the United States, he first worked for his uncle's store. But soon, he joined the West Point military academy as an instructor. While there, he became good friends with Robert Todd Lincoln, who was the son of President Abraham Lincoln. Mayer later left West Point to work in President Lincoln's law office.
During the early part of the American Civil War, Mayer strongly supported the idea of ending slavery, known as abolitionism. He wrote articles for Harper's Magazine, where he talked about the important role of African slaves' descendants in the South American Independence wars. He also helped create several colored regiments (military units made up of African American soldiers).
In July 1863, Mayer joined the Union Army as a captain. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and showed great bravery in battles. He fought in the Chattanooga area, at the battle of Olustee, and during the Siege of Petersburg. He commanded the 45th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment. When President Lincoln was assassinated, Mayer was at a party with his friend Robert Lincoln. Mayer attended Abraham Lincoln's funeral to support his grieving friend and family.
Adventures in Mexico
After the American Civil War, Mayer moved to Mexico. There, he became a general in the army of Benito Juárez, who was the president of Mexico. Some of his soldiers, who were Mexican, sometimes called him a "gringo" (a foreign person). He faced a serious conflict with one of his officers.
In 1867, after the siege of Querétaro, Mayer saved the life of a French-appointed general named Leonardo Márquez. Because of this, Mayer was accused of treason and faced a very serious punishment. Luckily, his life was saved by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who was Argentina's ambassador to the United States and later became president of Argentina.
Back in Argentina
Mayer returned to Argentina in 1873. Before coming home, he traveled a lot, visiting the United States (where he met the Cuban patriot Jose Marti), Mexico, and Britain. The governor of Buenos Aires province, Carlos Tejedor, recognized his rank as a general.
In 1875, Mayer commanded the artillery for a group that rebelled against the federal government, led by President Nicolás Avellaneda. After the rebellion was stopped, Mayer had to leave the army. He then became a successful writer. He wrote books about his experiences in the military. He also translated works by Edgar Allan Poe and even created a musical dictionary in 1888. This dictionary included one of the first definitions of tango as a type of music.
Governor of Santa Cruz
Even though he had some bad luck with investments in things like shore facilities and railways, Mayer eventually bought a large ranch in Santa Cruz. At that time, Santa Cruz was a federal territory in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
Because of his influence and experience, President Carlos Pellegrini chose him to be the governor in 1893. He took over after the previous governor, Ramon Lista, resigned.
As governor, Mayer played a very important role in helping Santa Cruz grow. He wanted to expand settlements towards the west, closer to the Andes mountains. This helped prevent too many people from living only along the coast. He encouraged activities like the animal fats industry, managing ships, and making bricks. During his time as governor, several scientific expeditions explored the territory. These expeditions were led by famous scientists like Carlos Burmeister, Otto Nordenskjöld, Clemente Onelli, and Carlos Ameghino.
Germán Edelmiro Mayer died suddenly on January 4, 1897, while working in his office in Rio Gallegos.
See also
In Spanish: Edelmiro Máyer para niños
