11. William P. White was born in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 1770. He arrived to the River Plate around 1803 and became a merchant. His economic support for the fitting of the first Argentine Navy Squadron, commanded by Admiral William Brown, was invaluable. In spite of this, he did not benefit from public gratitude. He died in poverty in Buenos Aires, on January 3, 1842.
11. Enactment of the law creating the National Military Academy, 1869 . The law was passed on this date by the National Congress, as a result of the drive and initiative of then President Domingo F. Sarmiento (1868-1874). Forty-five years had gone by since the Declaration of Independence of Argentina and the War with Paraguay had recently finished. According to the 1869 Census, the country had a population of 1,737,076 and Buenos Aires, the capital of the province with the same name and seat of the national government, had 187,346 inhabitants. The Suez Canal had been built and the United States was recovering from the long and cruel American Civil War. The Academy’s first location was in San Benito de Palermo, until 1892, when it was moved to the town of San Martín. The writ for the lands of El Palomar – where it is currently located – was granted in 1912 thanks to a donation of María Luisa and María Antonia Pereyra Iraola. The current construction was inaugurated in 1937. Tradition has published the march "The Song of the Military Academy" by Major and Band Conductor Domingo Di Ruvo (Italy 1902 – Argentina 1989), in TR020103.
11. The Boer War is declared, 1899.
12. Discovery of America by Admiral Christopher Columbus, 1492. Since 1917, the date is marked as the Day of Hispanic Culture and Race.
12. Declaration of religious freedom in Argentina, 1825. The House of Representatives of Buenos Aires declared "inalienable, in the territory of the Province, the right of every man to honor God Almighty according to his beliefs."
12. General Robert E. Lee, Confederate C-in-C, dies in Lexington, Virginia, 1870.
12. Completion of Allied withdrawal from Northern Russia, 1919.
13. Italy declares war on Germany, 1943
13. Athens recaptured by Allies, 1944
14. King Harold defeated by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, at the Battle of Hastings, 1066
14. Napoleon defeats the Prussians at Jena, 1806
14. Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Mattera was expelled from Argentina, 1884. By order of Argentine President, General Julio A. Roca, the representative of the Roman Court was expelled from the country, due to a diplomatic blunder by the Vatican’s representative in Argentina.
14. Dwight D. Einsenhower, soldier and statesman, is born in Texas, 1890.
15. Akbar I the Great, Mogul Emperor of India, is born, 1542.
15. Mata Hari, courtesan and spy, dies in Vincennes, 1917.
15. Herman Goering, Nazi leader and creator of the Luftwaffe, commits suicide, 1946.
16. Michael Collins, founder of the IRA is born in County Cork, Ireland, 1890.
17. Sign of the Peace of Campo Formio, 1797. Austria agreed to recognize Bonaparte's creation of the new Cisalpine Republic, formed by uniting Milan, Bologna and Modena.
17. General Juan C. Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires, 1797. When he was 14 years old, he joined the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers that was being organized by then Lt. Col. José de San Martín at the Retiro garrison. In 1814, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, he asked General Carlos de Alvear to be sent to participate in the siege of Montevideo. As part of the Army of the Andes, he fought in Achupallas, Putaendo and Chacabuco, with the rank of Lieutenant. He was later transferred to General Balcarce’s division with the rank of Captain and chief of a company of grenadiers. He participated in the battles of Talcahuano, Cancha Rayada and Maipú. He took part in the Campaign of South Chile until 1819, when he returned to Mendoza. Later he joined the liberation expedition to Peru. He had an outstanding performance in the battles of Jauja, Nazca and Pasco and distinguished himself in the battles of Rio Bamba and Pichincha (Ecuador), at which time he already had the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In September, 1822 he took part in the Intermediate Ports Campaign, fighting in the battles of Torata and Monquegua, that ended in defeats, where he was charged with covering the retreat. In 1824 he returned to Mendoza where he became Governor for a short period. Having returned to Buenos Aires, he was appointed Commander of the 4th Regiment of Cuirassiers, and led them against the Brazilians in the battles of Bacacay, Ituzaingó – he was promoted to General on the field – and Yerbal, where he was wounded. Back in Buenos Aires, he took an active role in the country’s internal struggles. As head of the Unitarian Party, he fought against General Juan M. Rosas, in Navarro, Puente de Márquez, Palmar, Carpintería, Yerúa, Don Cristobal, Sauce Grande, Quebracho and Famaillá, where he was defeated. He tried to win another military victory in Potrero de las Tablas, but the uprising of some of his forces left him no choice but to begin retreating towards Jujuy. He was lodged at the residence of Doctor Bedoya in the morning of October 9, 1841 when he was killed by a group of soldiers under General Oribe. His companions managed to take his body to Bolivian territory, where he was buried, at the Potosí Cathedral. His remains were repatriated to Buenos Aires on October 30, 1858.
17. British and French troops begin the siege of Sebastopol, 1854.
17. British forces defeat the Boers at Glencoe, 1899.
18. The Battle of Leipzig, 1813.
19. Capitulation of Cornwallis at Yorktown with over 7.000 men, 1781.
20. Greeks defeat the Persians in a naval battle at Salamis, 480 bC.
20. The Town Council of the City of Buenos Aires appointed San Martin of Tours as the city’s patron saint, 1580.
20. French defeat the Austrians at Ulm, 1805.
20. Hungary signs Tripartite Pact, 1940.
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