Simón Bolívar: Family, Schooling, Influence

Bolívar Family Origins

The name Bolívar is of Basque origin. The Bolívar family came from a village called La Puebla de Bolívar in Vizcaya (Basque Country), Spain.

First Bolívar in Venezuela

The first of the Bolívars to arrive in Venezuela, along with his son, came to Caracas 30 years after the city's founding, around 1589. To distinguish them, they were known as Simón de Bolívar the Elder and Simón de Bolívar the Younger.

Simón de Bolívar the Elder

Bolívar the Elder stood out as a royal accountant, by special privilege of King Philip II, and as keeper of the treasury. He was also attorney general for the cities of Caracas, Coro, Trujillo, Barquisimeto, Carora, El Tocuyo, and Maracaibo. He traveled to the Spanish court between 1590 and 1593 to report to King Philip on the status of the province and request improvements, tax exemptions, and privileges that would facilitate its development.

Palacios Family History

The Palacios family originated in the area of Miranda de Ebro, now in the province of Burgos, Spain. The first of the Palacios family to reach Venezuela were Palacios Sojo and José Ortiz de Zárate.

Bolívar's Early Education

During his early years, Simón received the attention of eminent teachers selected by his mother.

Key Teachers

• José Cecilio Ávila
• Father José Negrete
• Dr. Fernando Valdés
• Andrés Bello
• Miguel Sanz

Simón Rodríguez's Influence

Simón Rodríguez, also known as Samuel Robinson, was the teacher who had the major influence on Simón Bolívar. Rodríguez had a liberal and independence-minded training, having been formed in Europe based on the work of Rousseau. He is considered the most important and influential teacher of Bolívar. He did something that completely changed Bolívar's path, making him 'independent' from a life of fantasy influenced by his family's wealth.

Bolívar's Thought on Citizenship

The liberator's thought was that people should be prepared for the exercise of citizenship. "One is not a citizen merely by being born in a republic; it is necessary to be fully aware of the fact and assert the rights that citizenship entails." - Thought of Bolívar. Education would enable the formation of citizens capable of resolving situations that arise in social dynamics. It must also be able to train the muscles and nerves of the students and prepare them. Rodríguez said that education should be complete, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual development.

Travels and Influences

Bolívar's travels significantly shaped his perspective and connections.

First Journey to Spain

Bolívar's first trip to Spain was undertaken on January 19, 1799, arriving in Madrid, Spain, aboard the ship San Ildefonso. Simón lived with his uncle Stephen Parker and received lessons in riding, fencing, English, French, and Castilian language. The importance of this trip to Spain was that Bolívar frequented the Marquis de Ustáriz, a man of great culture closely related to the Encyclopedists and the Enlightenment in Madrid.