Fernando Baquedano

Who was Fernando Baquedano?

General Fernando Baquedano Rodríguez was a Chilean military and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation. Fernando Baquedano was of Basque descent, his ascendants came from Abarzuza.

Fernando Baquedano was born in Santiago, the son of Miguel Baquedano y Zebreros and of Isidora Rodríguez Rojas. In 1808, at the age of 12, he joined the ranks of the Queen's dragoons. Baquedano took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning, and during the Chilean War of Independence he served under both José Miguel Carrera and Bernardo O'Higgins in the siege of Chillán, and the battles of El Roble, Quirihue and Cauquenes, Gomero, Alto del Quilo, Paso del Maule, Tres Montes y Quechereguas. After the defeat of Rancagua he was forced, together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza, Argentina.

Once there he joined the Army of the Andes, and fought in the battles of Chacabuco and Talcahuano, Cancha Rayada and Maipu. He married Teresa González de Labra y Ros on July 18, 1819, and together they had three sons, among them the future general Manuel Baquedano. After the death of his first wife, he married for a second time on June 27, 1848, to Mercedes Concha Fuentealba, with whom he had another 6 children.