Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/111

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ARIAS
ARMAND
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his policy toward them was highly liberal, even dangerously so. Before he became governor he had acquired some note by an exploring expedition into the unknown northern parts of California.—His sister, Concepcion (b. in San Francisco, Cal., in 1790; d. in Benecia in 1857), was noted for her romance with Rezánof, the first Russian explorer that showed definite designs upon any part of California. In 1806 Rezánof, in the interests of the Russian colony at Sitka, had resolved to open trade with the Californians, and to establish, if possible, a Russian colony in the territory. To further his ends, he became betrothed to the young Concepcion, hoping for personal aid from the influential Argüello family. He returned to Russia to get further government approval for his projects, and suddenly died while absent. Concepcion never married, and died, a nun, half a century later. Her social position gave her story prominence, and it has been used by Bret Harte in one of his best-known poems.


ARIAS, Francisco Gabino, Argentine traveller, b. in Salto, Buenos Ayres; d. about 1808. In 1774, when a colonel in the army, he explored the desert known as “Gran Chaco.” On 3 June, 1780, he undertook an expedition having for its object the pacification of the Indians, which lasted until 31 Jan., 1781, and in 1782 he explored the river Bermejo, and proved that it flowed into the Paraguay and not into the Parana, as had formerly been supposed. He also gave valuable information about the navigability of the river and the character of the tribes living near it. His narrative of this expedition was published by his son, Dr. José Antonio Arias, by order of the government.


ARIAS DE BENAVIDES, Pedro (ah'-ree-as day ben-ah-vee'-des), Spanish physician of the 16th century, b. in Toro. He travelled extensively in western America, and made curious and interesting studies about the remedies used by the Indians for wounds, ulcers, and some specific diseases. His observations were published in Spain under the title of “Secretos de chirurgía especial de las enfermedades de morbo gállico y lamparones, y la manera como se curan los indios de llagas y heridas, con otros secretos hasta agora no escritos.” The dates of his birth and death are not known.


ARILLAGA, Basilio Manuel, Mexican scholar, b. about 1785 ; d. in August, 1867. Dr. Arillaga was probably the most ervulite scholar that Mex- ico has ever produced, and at various times had under his tutorship the most eminent men of his country. In 1865 the Abbe Testory, head chaplain of the French forces, wrote a pamphlet in defence of the nationalization of church property, in the course of which he characterized the Mexican clergy as ignorant and corrupt. Dr. Arillaga replied to this attack in three pamphlets, which are master- pieces of learning, statistics, wit, and sarcasm. Dr. Arillaga was superior of the Jesuits in Mexico, and rector of the college of San Ildefonso. He was ar- rested by the liberal authorities, together with Bishop Ormaechea, of Vera Cruz, and thrown into the prison of San Ildefonso, where he died.


ARISMENDI, Juan Bautista, Venezuelan general, b. in the island of ^largarita in 1786. He was a captain when the revolution broke out. and took command of the patriots and drove the Span- ish Gen. Morillo from the island after a long con- flict. He was one of the leaders that assembled a provincial congress at Angostura on 20 July, 1817, and put at the head of the government a trium- virate of which Bolivar was a member. In 1819 he assisted Bolivar and Paez to drive Morillo from New Granada and from the greater part of Venezuela. In Bolivar's absence the Angostura congress forced Zea, whom he had appointed vice-president, to resign, and chose Arismendi in his place. On his return Bolivar restored Zea and exiled Arismendi to Margarita. Notwithstanding this, Arismendi espoused the cause of Bolivar during the insurrection headed by Paez, in 1826, and rendered great service to the nation.


ARISTA, Mariano (ah-rees'-tah), Mexican gen- eral, b. in the state of San Luis Potosi, 26 July, 1802 ; d. on board the English steamer " Tagus " going from Lisbon to France, 7 Aug., 1855. Hav- ing distinguished himself in the successive wars that established first the independence of Mexico and afterward the republican form of government, he attained a high position in the Mexican ar- my, and in 1836 was second in command to Santa Anna, then general-in- chief. By the revolutions that continually agi- tated Mexico he was twice de- prived of his command ; but his military knowledge was indispensable to every dominant party, and he was quickly re- stored and pro- moted. In the war with the United States he connnanded

at Palo Alto

and Resaca de la Palma; and after its close was appointed in June, 1848, minister of war under President Herrera. In 1850 he was elected presi- dent of Mexico, but he resigned that office 6 Jan., 1853, and retired to his farm, and was ban- ished soon afterward. In 1881 his remains were sent home to Mexico.


ARISTIZABAL, Gabriel de, Spanish admiral, b. in Madrid in 1743 ; d. in 1805. In 1795 he con- ceived and carried out the idea of transferring to Havana the remains of Christopher Columbus, which, with those of his son Diego, had been in the cathedral of the city of Santo Domingo, in the island of Santo Domingo, since 1536. Doubts have arisen about the genuineness of these remains through the alleged discovery, in 1877, in the same cathedral, of what have been claimed to be the true remains of Columbus.


ARMAND, Charles Trefin, Marquis de la Rouaire, Fi-ench soldier, b. in Fouc^eres, France, 14 April, 1751 ; d. near Lambelle, 30 Jan.. 1793. At an early age he entered the Garde du Corps in Paris, but fought a duel about an actress, was dismissed from the service, and in consequence left France. Coming to the American colonies, he volunteered in the cause of the revolution, 10 May, 1777, and received from congress a commission as colonel under the name of Charles Armand. He participated in the engagement at Reil Bank, was with Lafayette in New Jersey, and was active in Westchester CO., N. Y., opposing the forces of Simcoe, Emmerick, and Baremore, the latter of whom he captured near Kingsbridge, 8 Nov., 1770. The following year his corps was incorporated with