Thomas Andrews Sharpe
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Thomas Andrews Sharpe | |
|---|---|
| File:Thomas Andrews Sharpe.jpg Thomas Andrews Sharpe portrait | |
| Born | 1786 Washingborough, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 8 September 1867 Talcamávida, Hualqui, Chile |
| Allegiance |  Chile |
| Service/ | Chilean Army |
| Rank | Commander of Cavalry (Comandante de Caballería) |
| Battles/wars | Chilean War of Independence Civil War of 1829–1830 |
| Spouse(s) | María del Rosario Lantaño (m. 1814; died 1815) Isabel Santibáñez Goñi (m. 1823) |
| Children | 6+ |
Thomas Andrews Sharpe (1786 – September 8, 1867) was an English-born military officer who served as a cavalry commander in Chile's War of Independence and later became a prominent citizen of Talcahuano. He participated in several key battles of the independence campaigns between 1817 and 1823, and later served multiple terms as Governor of Talcahuano.[1][2]
Early life and arrival in Chile
Thomas Andrews Sharpe was born in 1786 in Washingborough, Lincolnshire, England, the son of William Andrews and Sarah Sharpe. His father was the owner of a prominent shipping company.[1][3] He arrived in Chile aboard the frigate Thomas, a vessel owned by his father. Carrying a letter of introduction from his father to the influential Urrutia Mendiburu family of Concepción, Sharpe quickly integrated into Chilean society and formed friendships with key figures of the independence movement, including Juan Martínez de Rozas, Bernardo O'Higgins, and Ramón Freire.[1][2]
When the independence movement began in 1810, Sharpe embraced the patriot cause. He enrolled in the National Guard and donated his ship, the Thomas, to the newly formed government, allowing its crew freedom to choose their own course of action.[1]
Military service
War of Independence (1817–1823)
Sharpe served as a Commander of Cavalry (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) in the patriot forces. After joining the Ejército Libertador in Mendoza, he crossed the Andes under the command of Ramón Freire via the Paso del Planchón.[1]
His documented military engagements include:[1][2]
- Battle of Cumpeo (1817)
- Taking of Talca and Linares (February 11, 1817)
- Battle of Curapalihue (March 5, 1817)
- Battle of Talcahuano (December 1817)
- Battles of Las Vegas and Alameda de Concepción
Chilean Civil War (1829–1830)
During the Chilean Civil War of 1829–1830, Sharpe fought alongside his friend Ramón Freire in the liberal faction. He was captured following the decisive Battle of Lircay (April 17, 1830) and imprisoned in Santiago for approximately one year. He was pardoned by President José Joaquín Prieto under the amnesty law of 1831.[1][2]
Personal life
First marriage
Thomas Andrews Sharpe married María del Rosario Lantaño on June 24, 1814. She came from a prominent Chillán family with members who had served on both the royalist and patriot sides during the independence wars. She was the daughter of Fernando de Lantaño y Landa (Spanish) and Ana del Pino y Sepúlveda. The marriage produced no children, and Rosario died approximately one year after the wedding, while Thomas was serving with the Ejército Libertador in Mendoza.[1]
Second marriage and family
In March 1823, Sharpe married Isabel Santibáñez Goñi of Concepción. Together they had several children, including:[3]
- Antonio Andrews Santibáñez
- Ana María Andrews Santibáñez
- Elena Andrews Santibáñez
- Genoveva Andrews Santibáñez
- David Andrews Santibáñez
- Ramona Andrews Santibáñez (who married Luis Mathieu Solar)
Civilian career in Talcahuano
After his military career, Sharpe settled permanently in Talcahuano and became one of its most prominent citizens.
Agriculture and horse breeding
Sharpe owned haciendas in Quilacoya and Purén, where he engaged in agriculture. He established what is considered the first horse breeding operation in southern Chile on the leased Isla Rocuant in Talcahuano Bay.[1][2] In 1820, he was granted a concession to exploit resources on Isla Quiriquina, a franchise he later transferred to his son-in-law Luis Mathieu Solar.[1]
Shipowner
Sharpe also worked as a shipowner (armador) in the port of Talcahuano, contributing to the city's maritime commerce.[2]
Governor of Talcahuano
Sharpe served as Governor of Talcahuano on multiple occasions, enjoying significant popular support in the community.[2][1] His terms as governor, combined with his business activities and military reputation, made him one of the most influential figures in the port city during the mid-19th century.
Later years and death
The 1835 Concepción earthquake devastated Sharpe's holdings, destroying virtually all his property including his operations on Isla Rocuant. Facing financial ruin, he petitioned the government for a pension in recognition of his military service, for which he had never accepted payment.[1]
On August 26, 1850, by decree of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Sharpe was awarded 3,500 pesos in compensation for the wages he had refused during his years of military service as Cavalry Commander of the Port of Talcahuano.[1]
Thomas Andrews Sharpe died in Talcamávida, Hualqui, on September 8, 1867, at the age of 81. He was buried in San José Cemetery in Concepción.[1][2]
Legacy
Sharpe is remembered in Talcahuano as a "forgotten hero" of Chilean independence. The local heritage organization Talcahuano Patrimonial has worked to preserve his memory through historical tours and educational materials.[4] A street in the Providencia commune of Santiago, Calle Tomás Andrews, bears his name.
His gravestone reads:
THOMAS ANDREWS SHARPE
NACIDO EN ESCOCIA 1787 MUERTO EN TALCAMÁVIDA 1867
COMANDANTE DE CABALLERIA DEL PUERTO DE TALCAHUANO
CAMPAÑAS DE LA INDEPENDENCIA 1818–1823
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Palma Andrews, Jorge (2004–2005). Nosotros los de antes (in español). Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Historia Puerto Talcahuano (2021). "Thomas Andrews Sharpe". Instagram (in español).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Thomas Andrews Sharpe (1786–1867)". Geni.com. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ↑ Rodríguez Torrent, Juan Carlos; Gissi Barbieri, Nicolás; Medina Hernández, Patricio (2017). "Lo que queda de Chile: La Patagonia, el nuevo espacio económico y la construcción de identidades". Magallania (in español). 45 (1): 51–72. doi:10.4067/S0718-34022017000100010.
External links
- Talcahuano Patrimonial – Local heritage organization
- Thomas Andrews Sharpe family tree on Geni.com
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