Rivadavia, Bernardino

Argentine politician, first president of Argentina 1826–27. During his rule he made a number of social reforms including extending the franchise to all males over 20 and encouraging freedom of the press. Unable to control the provincial caudillos, he was forced to resign and spent most of his remaining years in exile in Europe.

Rivadavia was secretary to the revolutionary junta 1811–12 and a minister in the Rodríguez administration 1820–23. War with Brazil over Uruguay 1825–28 forced him to call the congress which wrote the central constitution 1826, and elected him to the presidency. An enigmatic and controversial figure, he is variously regarded as a democrat, republican, monarchist, and traitor.