Jacinto Lara


Jacinto Lara, was a Venezuelan independence leader and hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence. His contribution included participating in Simón Bolívar's 1813 Admirable Campaign. He was briefly Prefect of the Intendency of the Magdalena River and the Isthmus in 1821. He later led a reserve division at the Battle of Ayacucho, a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence.

Legacy

The Venezuelan state of Lara was named after him, as was Barquisimeto's airport. He is buried in the National Pantheon of Venezuela.

Biography

In 1812, he was appointed lieutenant colonel and goes to serve under command of Simon Bolivar and at the next year he fights in the battle of Cúcuta against colonel Ramón Correa. Along with Bolívar participated in the Admirable Campaign highlighting in the fights of Niquitao, Los Horcones and Taguanes, on 2, 11 and 31 July of that year. He continued with the Liberator participating in the siege of Puerto Cabello and in the battles of Bárbula and Trincheras and Vigirima.
In 1814, he took part in the Battle of Carabobo, on May 28, the day he turned 36, and then, under the orders of General Rafael Urdaneta, continued operations in the west of the country. He participated in the retreat to Nueva Granada, where the command of Urdaneta's forces is assumed by Bolívar, and they marched to Santafé de Bogotá to fight against Manuel Bernardo Álvarez, concluding the operation in December of that same year.