Sebastián Ágreda

Sebastián Ágreda (1795 – 18 December 1875) was a Bolivian military officer and statesman who served as the seventh president of Bolivia for 29 days in 1841. In addition to his short term as president, he also held a number of other governmental roles as well as being a prominent figure in the Bolivian military.

Early life and military career Ágreda was born in Potosí, Bolivia in 1795, from a very young age, he enlisted in the armies of General José de San Martín. He participated in the battles of Chacabuco and Maipú.

Ágreda had fought in the battles of Junin and Ayacucho under Antonio José de Sucre, for which the Grand Marshal rewarded him as commander of the Military College in Chuquisaca. Later still, he was appointed commander of the Army by Andrés de Santa Cruz, and was considered a national hero for heading the Bolivian forces that routed Argentina at the Battle of Montenegro in 1838.

After only a month in power, he agreed to leave provided Congress name a pro-Santa Cruz Provisional President until Santa Cruz himself could return to rule. This done, he left the Government Palace, and remained a respected war hero. Indeed, he became an elder statesman of sorts, serving as ambassador abroad and member of the Cabinet under José Ballivián, and Prefect of La Paz and Chuquisaca in his latter years (chiefly in the administrations of Jorge Córdova and José María Achá). He died at the age of 80 in La Paz.