José Darragueira

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José Darregueira was a Peruvian-born lawyer and politician who helped Argentina gain its independence. Born in Moquegua, Peru, he studied in Buenos Aires and earned a law degree at the University of Chuquisaca, where he served as a magistrate. He returned to Buenos Aires in 1795 and became a key supporter of the May Revolution of 1810, taking part in meetings at the homes of Nicolás Rodríguez Peña and Hipólito Vieytes. At the May 22, 1810 meeting, he voted to remove Viceroy Cisneros. The authorities later appointed him to the appeals court. He was elected to represent Buenos Aires in the Tucumán Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1816. He died soon after the Congress was moved to Buenos Aires.