Miguel de Azcuénaga

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Miguel de Azcuénaga (1754 - 1833)^[1] was an Argentine general who fought for the Province of Buenos Aires.

Born in Buenos Aires, he was the son of Vicente de Azcuénaga and Rosa de Basavilvaso. He received a Spanish education in Málaga and Seville. On his return to Argentina he joined the army as a second lieutenant of artillery. He took part in the war with the Portuguese over the Banda Oriental.

In 1802 he was promoted to the rank of colonel and became commander of the Volunteer Infantry Battalion of Buenos Aires.

In 1810, he participated in the Revolución de Mayo and was a member of the Primera Junta.

In 1811 he was exiled to the province of San Juan for his support of Mariano Moreno. The following year he returned to Buenos Aires, where he assumed various public roles, among them Governor of Buenos Aires during the Primer Triunvirato.

In 1818 he became senior head of state and in 1819 participated in the General Congress that repudiated the Unitarian constitution which had never taken effect. In 1828 he represented Argentina at the negotiations following the war with Brazil.

Miguel de Azcuénaga's manor house in Olivos was designed by Prilidiano Pueyrredón. It was inherited by Carlos Villate Olaguer, who donated to the government on the condition that it become the official residence of the president.

Miguel's sister Flora de Azcuénaga married Gaspar de Santa Coloma, and his other sister, Ana de Azcuénaga, married Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú, Viceroy of the Río de la Plata between 1797 and 1799.