José María San Martín

Who was José María San Martín?

Colonel José María San Martín was born in Nacaome, Honduras to Colonel Joaquín de San Martín and Joaquina Fugón.

Although born in Honduras, his family moved to Chalatenango, El Salvador when he was a child. He studied philosophy at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala but did not graduate. Instead he returned to El Salvador in 1829 where he later married Isabel García de Machón.

In 1832 he became a deputy in the parliament of the Province of El Salvador.

In 1834 he joined the army. Later that year his father Joaquín de San Martín y Ulloa, declared the separation of the province of El Salvador in the Central American Confederation invading José Francisco Morazán Quezada of El Salvador and the troops sent by Joaquín de San Martín y Ulloa, at the Jiboa River, June 1834.

The family of San Martín y Ulloa went into exile in Mexico. After the Central American Confederation in 1840 returned to El Salvador. José María San Martín returned as a lieutenant colonel.

In 1842 he attempted a coup against Francisco Malespín, which failed and José María San Martín was exiled to Honduras.

He returned to El Salvador in 1845.