José de San Martín was a military and political leader who played a key role in the independence of several South American countries from Spanish rule. He was born in 1778 in Yapeyú, in what is now Argentina, and he went on to become a leading figure in the struggle for independence in countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru. San Martín is considered one of the most important figures in Latin American history and is known as the "Libertador" (Liberator) for his role in freeing these countries from colonial rule.
