Jacques de Liniers

Jacques de Liniers Span. Santiago de Liniers y de Bremond , 1753–1810, French officer in Spanish service, viceroy of Río de la Plata. After a military and naval career in Europe, he was transferred to the Río de la Plata (1788) as a Spanish naval officer. In 1806 he recaptured Buenos Aires from British forces under William Carr Beresford . The viceroy had fled, and Liniers was named commander in chief and lieutenant to the viceroy. When a second British invasion occurred the following year, Liniers called a junta of war, including Manuel Belgrano , which deposed the viceroy (Feb. 10, 1807). Despite the rout of the creole army outside Buenos Aires, the hastily organized defenses of the city proved effective (July 5, 1807); the British general, John Whitelocke, surrendered. In May, 1808, the appointment of Liniers as viceroy became known; he served until Aug., 1809, though there were attempts by his political enemies to oust him. After retirement, he became involved in a counterrevolutionary plot and was executed.