Statue of Simón Bolívar
(at the corner of Dalhousie and Besserer Street)
Written by Bytown Museum
on
03/Dec/2009
If you've ever walked by it, you've no doubt asked yourself, “Why on earth is there a statue of Simón Bolívar at the intersection of Waller and Nicholas streets?” Truth be told, we’re not quite sure (if you know the reason for the statue’s location, please share)! We can, however, tell you a little about the man and the legend behind the commemoration.
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco, born in Venezuela, was one of the most important leaders of Hispanic America's successful struggle for independence from Spain. Known as the Liberator, he contributed to the independence of present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia – making Bolívar one of the few men to have a country named after him.
In the late 1820s, due to personal rivalries among the generals of the revolution, civil wars exploded which destroyed the South American unity for which Bolívar had fought. He died in 1830. Statues in his honour exist around the world.
