The Vinery’s 2nd Birthday Carnival
Saturday 17th August 10.30am - 2.30pm
CARNIVAL @ The Vinery
The Bicentenary of the Freedom of Banff being given to General Jos é de San Martín, Libertador
James Duff 4th Earl Fife
General José Francisco de San Martin was a name to be conjured with in Banff early in the nineteenth century. This general became a great friend of James, the 4th Earl Fife, after they met during the Peninsular Wars in Spain. At that time they had both given allegiance to Spain, but José was born in Argentina, and in 1812 was drawn back to South America. Interestingly the Burgess Roll of Banff for 1824 lists José as from Colombia, rather than Argentina; at the time this was correct as José’s last South American domicile was in Guayaquil, originally in Peru, at that time very recently annexed to Colombia and today in Ecuador.
It was actually James Earl Fife – who had returned to UK in 1811 after his father the 3rd Earl died – that organised José’s trip from Spain via London, as switching allegiances to now fight against Spain from being one of their most successful military leaders was a delicate situation!
As a great strategist, José was the General that led Argentina (then known as the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata) to gain independence from Spain, and also led armies to liberate Chile and then Peru. He ceded to another Libertador, Simon Bolivar, in 1822 in Peru, left his life in the military and politics and came back to Europe.
For 7 days in 1824 he visited his friend James at Duff House – the really will liked and respected fourth Earl Fife. José made great effort to get here, spending five days travelling by stagecoach from London, and presumably the same for the return journey. Recent research is revealing that the visit was more than just visiting his friend, but a planning exercise for some international diplomacy to better the governance of Peru, something the British government of the time were interested in. During that stay, specifically on 19th August, the town of Banff granted General San Martin the freedom of the Burgh. He probably cut quite a dashing figure at the time; the artist for a painting between 1825 or 1827 was quite representative of his visit to Banff.
José went to live in France, and died on 17th August in 1850. James planted a Monkey Puzzle tree in his memory, that still survives in Duff House woods. One hundred years later and the then Argentine ambassador, Carlos Hogan, paid a celebratory visit to Banff on 25th October. Part of his visit was planting a native Argentinian “Monkey Puzzle” tree in Banff Castle grounds – where one can be seen today together with it’s plaque.
Just over two years later and Banff is given another accolade in memory of José de San Martin. Carlos Hogan went on to become the Argentine Minister of Agriculture, and arranged for a square in Buenos Aires to be called “Plaza Ciudad de Banff” – Town of Banff – “in recognition of the hospitality given to the Argentine Liberator Don José de San Martin by Banff in 1824, and the freedom of the Burgh they conferred upon him.” That Plaza retains that name to date in Buenos Aires.
Jose De San Martin
Today General San Martin is one of the most revered people in many South American countries, and celebrating the bicentenary of his visit to Banff will take place at the weekend of 17th and 18th Aug, and more formally on Mon 19th with a private event at Duff House.