Juan Esteban Pedernera

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**Juan E. Pedernera**

Term of Office:	November 5, 1861— December 12, 1861
Predecessor:	Santiago Derqui
Successor:	Bartolomé Mitre
Vice-president:	none
Date of Birth:	December 25, 1796
Place of Birth:	San José del Morro, San Luis
Date of Death:	February 1, 1886
Place of Death:	Buenos Aires
Profession:	Military
Political Party:

Juan Esteban Pedernera (1796-1886) was interim President of Argentina during a brief period in 1861.

Born in 1796 in San Luis, he was studying in a Franciscan monastery when young, when he left his studies to join the army of Grenadiers being summoned by José de San Martín to fight in the war of independence against Spanish rule. In 1815, he fought in Chacabuco and Maipú, Chile, and in the campaign to liberate Peru. He was imprisoned by the Spanish during the latter campaign in Chiloé island, but managed to escape and rejoin his army.

In 1826 engaged again in military activity, this time in Argentina's war with Brazil. Later, in the country's civil wars, he joined the Unitarian side, under command of General José María Paz, and fought in La Tablada against Rosist forces. After a time in exile, he returned to the country after Rosas' fall, and acted as Senator for San Luis. In 1856 he was designed commander of the frontier armed forces, and in 1859 he was Governor of San Luis, and fought in the Battle of Cepeda the same year.

He was then elected Vice-President of Argentina, for elected President Santiago Derqui, and served from 1860 to 1861, when Derqui resigned, and Pedernera acted as President until the political situation forced the dissolution of the office. In 1882 he was designated Lieutenant General of the Armies of the Republic.

Preceded by Salvador M. del Carril	Vice-President of Argentina 1860-1861	Succeeded by Marcos Paz
Preceded by Santiago Derqui	President of Argentina 1861	Succeeded by Bartolomé Mitre