José Olaya

José Olaya

José Silverio Olaya Balandra (1789 – June 29, 1823) was a Peruvian cultural figure and fighter for the independence. He is remembered for the enunciation of his clear political position towards independence with his declaration "If I have a thousands lives, I would give them very glad before reject my country..."

Biography

Son of Jose Apolinario and Cordoba and Mrs. Olaya Balandra Melchora. He had 11 children. In the struggle for the independence of Peru, the hero acted as secret emissary carrying messages between the government of Callao and Lima Patriots swimming. It was discovered, arrested and subjected to torture and sentenced to death despite the torture, he never revealed his mission, preferring to swallow the letters assigned to the mission. Peru's independence, declared for the first time in Huaura in November 1820 and July 28, 1821 in Lima, but had been effective in Lima and in the north, but Cuzco, the central highlands and south were still under the dominion of the royal army.

When Jose de San Martin acknowledged the lack of support it receives from the political and military forces, resigned to the Constituent Congress of 1822. The congress appointed as President of the Republic José de la Riva Agüero and Congress President Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro. The royal army, taking advantage of the patriot troops were far away, took Lima and members of Congress felt compelled to take refuge in the Fortress of Real Felipe in Callao. It is in this scene where Jose Olaya, a fisherman by trade, did not hesitate to serve as a link between the ships of the squadron Liberation (formed by units of the Republic of Chile) and the soldiers of the patriot forces (Argentine, Chilean and Peruvian) located in Lima, even if it meant traveling across the sea fields and swimming.

Captured by the royal army, tortured to obtain information about the patriot forces. José Olaya Balandra was not discouraged to pain. He suffered two hundred shovels and two hundred lashes applied it, not giving in even when his fingernails torn out. Finally, on the morning of June 29, 1823 pronounced the sentence If a thousand lives have gladly would give for my country and then was shot in the passage of the Plaza Mayor of Lima, which now bears his name: Passage Olaya.