Valentín Alsina (1802 - September 5, 1869) was an Argentine politician.
He was born in Buenos Aires and studied law in Córdoba. Alsina occupied diverse posts in the administration and also had a successful civil career as an advocate and professor of law at the university of Buenos Aires. Under the government of Juan Manuel de Rosas, he had to leave the country, for his liberal ideas did not please the dictator at all. From his refuge in Montevideo, he supported the opposition against de Rosas both financially and through publications. When de Rosas was replaced by Justo José de Urquiza, Alsina returned to Buenos Aires, where he was elected governor in 1852. However, he resigned after a few months, shortly before a military coup. In 1853, Buenos Aires left the Argentinian Federation and declared itself an independent state. Alsina, a fervent supporter of independence, became governor again in 1857. In 1859, open hostilities between Alsina and the government of the rest of Argentina of Urquiza broke out. After the defeat of the army of Buenos Aires under Bartolomé Mitre at Cepada on October 23, 1859, Alsina had to abdicate and Buenos Aires was forced to rejoin the federation. In 1868—Urquiza long dead and Mitre having become president—Alsina again held an official position as a member of the Supreme Court and served, together with his son Adolfo Alsina as vice-president.
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Last updated: 08-02-2005 13:25:07
