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Grenadier Guardsman Lives and Tends House Where Liberator San Martín Died
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Grenadier Guardsman Lives and Tends House Where Liberator San Martín Died

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Sub-officer Rubén Torres serves as the custodian of the house in Boulogne-sur-Mer where Argentine liberator José de San Martín spent his final years.
  • Torres, an Argentine Army Granadero, lives in the house with his family and receives visitors from around the world.
  • The house, where San Martín lived from 1848 until his death in 1850, was acquired by the Argentine state in 1926 and now functions as a museum.

Sub-officer Principal Rubén Torres, a member of the Argentine Army's "General San Martín" Horse Grenadier Regiment, lives a unique life guarding the final residence of the South American liberator, José de San Martín. Located in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, the house is where San Martín lived from 1848 until his death on August 17, 1850. Torres resides on the third floor with his wife and two children, welcoming visitors daily.

Torres recounts San Martín's arrival in Boulogne-sur-Mer in 1848, a period of political unrest in Paris. Seeking a quieter environment due to his age and health issues, San Martín, accompanied by his daughter Merceditas, son-in-law Mariano Balcarce, and granddaughters, initially planned a brief stay. However, he was captivated by the area's rural charm, a stark contrast to the turmoil in the capital.

Despite his daughter's concerns about the climate exacerbating his rheumatism and asthma, San Martín decided to remain. The family settled in the house after a brief stay at the Hotel du Nord. The property's owner, Adolphe Gérard, a respected lawyer, journalist, and bibliophile, befriended San Martín and rented him the entire second floor. Gérard reportedly spent hours conversing with San Martín in the garden, documenting much of the liberator's life story.

Acquired by the Argentine state in 1926, the house became a museum two years later. Torres notes the profound emotional impact the site has on visitors, with many weeping and kneeling in reverence. He shares insights into San Martín's later years, emphasizing what remains intact within the historic home and the deep sense of connection visitors feel.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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