Renowned writer, historian, and journalist Jorge Giles , former director of the National Malvinas Museum, arrives in Tierra del Fuego to present his book , "El Gaucho Rivero: Father of the Malvinas Cause." The author will spend three days in Ushuaia and Tolhuin as part of the mandatory training on the Malvinas Question organized by the Municipality of Ushuaia , through its Secretariat of Malvinas Affairs.

Giles's book is not just a historical account; it is an act of sovereign vindication that honors the memory of Antonio Rivero. His courageous resistance in 1833 against British usurpation was the first revolutionary spark in the struggle for Argentine sovereignty in the Malvina Islands. The book's presentation seeks to recover our historical memory and keep alive the flame of the Malvinas Cause, a fundamental pillar of our national identity.

A forgotten hero who rose up against usurpation

The story of Antonio Rivero, a key figure in the defense of Argentine sovereignty, dates back to the historical context of the British occupation. Following the attack by the USS Lexington, which destroyed the Argentine settlement in 1832, the government of Buenos Aires sent Commander José María Pinedo. However, in January 1833, the British corvette HMS Clio, commanded by Captain John James Onslow, forced Pinedo to abandon the islands, establishing British occupation.

But not everyone left. A group of peons and gauchos, led by Antonio Rivero, stayed. On August 26, 1833 , in an act of resistance, Rivero and his men revolted against mistreatment and nonpayment of wages by the British. They murdered the interim chief, Matthew Brisbane, and four other Britons, raising the Argentine flag over the settlement.

For five months, the gauchos maintained control of Soledad Bay, sailing around the islands and forcing the crew of a ship to fly the Argentine flag. Although they were eventually captured and taken to London, the British court hesitated to convict them of murder, as doing so would mean recognizing Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas. The gauchos were released and deported back to America.

Rivero's legacy is a symbol of Argentine resistance to the usurpation. His uprising demonstrated that the Argentine population refused to accept the occupation and actively defended the territory.

Presentation days and places

Jorge Giles' book presentations will take place in various locations throughout the province: