Mariano Moreno

Mariano Moreno, born on September twenty-third, seventeen seventy-eight in Buenos Aires, was a multifaceted Argentine lawyer, journalist, and politician. He was the firstborn in a family of fourteen siblings, with his father, Manuel Moreno y Argumosa, hailing from Santander, Spain. Moreno's early education at the San Carlos Royal College under Mariano Medrano laid the foundation for his future endeavors, where he studied Latin, logic, and philosophy before pursuing law at Chuquisaca, immersing himself in the Enlightenment ideas of his time.

Upon returning to Buenos Aires, Moreno quickly established himself as a prominent lawyer for the Cabildo. His political career took a decisive turn as he rejected the Carlotist project and the administration of Santiago de Liniers, instead aligning himself with the ill-fated mutiny led by Álzaga. His influence grew as he worked for the viceroy, Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, authoring the economic paper, The Representation of the Landowners, which successfully advocated for opening trade with Britain.

Although not a central figure in the May Revolution that ousted Cisneros, Moreno was appointed secretary of war in the newly formed Primera Junta. He, alongside Juan José Castelli, implemented stringent policies against supporters of the former regime, detailed in a controversial secret document known as the Operations plan. Moreno's military strategies included campaigns to Paraguay and Upper Peru, and he was instrumental in the execution of Santiago de Liniers following the counter-revolution.

As a pioneer of Argentine journalism, he founded the first newspaper, La Gazeta de Buenos Ayres, and translated Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract into Spanish. However, his progressive stance often put him at odds with President Cornelio Saavedra, who favored more moderate policies. This political tension culminated in Moreno's appointment to a diplomatic mission to Britain, tragically cut short by his death at sea, with his brother Manuel alleging foul play. Despite his untimely demise, Moreno's legacy endured, influencing Argentine politics for years to come.