Antonio Sucre

Antonio José de Sucre (1795-1830) was a South American independence leader, one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends.

Antonio José de Sucre was born in Cumaná, Venezuela, then part of the Spanish colony of Nueva Granada.

In 1811 he joined the battles for American independence from Spain. He proved himself an able military leader. After defeating Spanish forces at Boyaca in 1819 he was given the rank of brigadier general. In 1821 Bolívar put him in charge of the campaign to liberate Quito. He won a decisive victory at the Battle of Pichincha on 24 May, 1822.

Further victories followed over the Spanish forces in Peru, notably on 6 August, 1824, then on 9 December at Ayacucho decisively capturing the bulk of the Spanish troops and command, including the Viceroy.

Sucre was elected president of the newly formed nation of Bolivia in 1826, but dissatisfied with political conflicts resigned two years later and moved to Quito.

In 1829, on the urging of Bolívar, the Congress of Gran Colombia named him president of that nation.

Factions wished to divide Gran Colombia into separate countries. Sucre headed to Quito to try to prevent this, but en route was assassinated in the mountainous region of Berruecos, near Pasto, in the south of Colombia.

The city of Sucre in Bolivia was named after him, as well as the former Sucre (currency) of Ecuador.