Francisco Pelliza

He was born in Buenos Aires, son of Luis Pelliza and María Molina, belonging to a distinguished Creole family.[3] He did his elementary studies in the Colegio Real de San Carlos,[4] and began his military career during the first British invasions of the River Plate, serving in the Regiment of Patricians.[5]

He was graduated as Ensign of the Patrician Regiment on July 30, 1808, then serving as second lieutenant of the same regiment from January 10, 1809. That same year the Regiment of Patricians under the command of Cornelio Saavedra took part in the actions against the rebel troops of Martín de Álzaga, who had risen up against the Viceroy Liniers (Mutiny of Álzaga).[6]

He supported the cause of the May Revolution, and was confirmed as officer of the Patricians by the new authorities. He toke part in the first battles produced in the War for Independence since 1810.[7]

In 1812 Francisco Pelliza served as Lieutenant in the Army of the North commanded by Manuel Belgrano.[8] Under the command of General Belgrano, he participated in the battles Tucuman, Salta, Vilcapugio and Ayohuma.[9] On 14, November 1813, Pelliza was taken prisoner at the Battle of Ayohuma. He was imprisoned until 1820, when he was released in a prisoner exchange by General José de San Martin. In 1821, Pelliza was promoted to Captain,[10] serving in the Escolta de Húsares.[11]

Francisco Pelliza retired from the Army with the rank of Sergeant major.[12] In 1831, he was appointed to occupy the post of Chief of Campaña (Alcalde) in the town of Cañuelas (Buenos Aires Province).[13] He and his family were active members of Freemasonry in the Río de La Plata.[14]

He married on September 12, 1812 in the Buenos Aires Cathedral, to María de los Santos Fernández Castro, daughter of Ramón de los Santos Fernández and Encarnación Molina. He and his wife were parents of Manuela Pelliza (born in 1812), married on August 17, 1826 in Santos Lugares to Sinforoso Camilo Canaveris (1808-1872), son of María de los Ángeles Rodríguez and Manuel Canaveris, a lieutenant who served in the Regiment of Patricians.[15]

The founder of the Pelliza family was Domingo Pelliza, a Genoese merchant who had traveled to Spain in 1738.[16] This family was related to the Domingo de Acassuso, a militia officer, born in Biscay, and founder of San Isidro, a city in the Buenos Aires Province.[17]

Two members of the Pelliza family were related to the Pueyrredón family. José María Pelliza Gómez Rospigliosi (Colonel of the Argentine army) was married to Virginia Pueyrredón Sánchez, daughter of Juan Martín de Pueyrredón and Juana Sánchez.[18] His daughter, Virginia Pelliza Pueyrredón was married to her relative Mariano Aurelio Pelliza, son of Francisco María Pelliza and Francisca Burgos.[19]