Isabel Riquelme

María Isabel Riquelme de la Barrera y Meza (6 March 1758 – April 21, 1839), was the mother of Chilean independence leader Bernardo O'Higgins and First Lady of Chile.

Early life and family María Isabel Riquelme de la Barrera y Meza was born on 6 March 1758 in Chillán, Captaincy General of Chile (present-day Chile) to Simón Riquelme de la Barrera y Goycochea, a Mayor and landowner, and María Mercedes de Mesa y Ulloa (died 1758). Riquelme's mother died during childbirth. Following a brief relationship, Riquelme became pregnant and gave birth to Bernardo O'Higgins in August 1778. Riquelme and her family were released two months later during a prisoner exchange between Royalist and Patriot forces. In Buenos Aires Riquelme and her daughter Rosa sold and made cigars.

Personal life On 21 April 1839 Riquelme died in Lima, Republic of North Peru (present-day, Peru). Riquelme is buried at the in Chillán conurbation.