One of Argentina's founding fathers, Mariano Moreno (1778-1811) was a leading figure in the first phase of the country's independence movement. The zealous Moreno advocated Argentine independence and a strong central government. His uncompromising ways eventually led to exile, but not before he had put in place many of the foundations for a new nation.

The city of Buenos Aires was the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata when Mariano Moreno was born there on September 23, 1778. Rio de la Plata comprised present day Argentina, Uraguay, Paraguay and much of Bolivia. Moreno was the oldest of 14 children born to Manuel Moreno, a Spanish immigrant of moderate means, and Ana Maria Valle, a local woman. Moreno was sickly during much of his life and almost died of smallpox at the age of eight. The disease left his face permanently scarred.

An intelligent boy, Moreno attended...