Saturnino Canaveri

The Argentine Army on the banks of the Río Negro, c.1879.

He was born in Buenos Aires, the son of Francisco Canaveris and Ofelia Segrestán, belonging to a Creole family of French descent. He completed his elementary studies in the city, and began his military career after the death of his father. He was enlisted in the 2° Regimiento de Caballería de Línea (2nd Line Cavalry Regiment), towards the year of 1875, serving as alférez in Guaminí, province of Buenos Aires.[4] He took part in several clashes between the Argentine army and the Pampas tribes, highlighting his actions in the Combat of the Sierra de Currumalán (Coronel Suárez).[5]

In 1878, Saturnino Canaveri served as a lieutenant, taking part of Campaigns to the desert organized by the Ejército Argentino against the aborigines.[6] He was commissioned to pursue the cacique Ancapi Ñancucheo, a brave chief of Pehuenche origin,[7] who had his huts on the Chimehuin River.[8]

He also participated in the persecution of Antener (brave chief of Boroano origin), and led an expedition of forty soldiers, in the Chimehuin River. The expedition counted on two baqueanos who officiated as guides.[9]

After completing his military services as an expeditionary to the Desert, he arrived at the Port of Buenos Aires aboard the Villarino Steam from Patagonia on May 9, 1883.[10] He had served in the detachment the General Roca about five years, and began to provide services in Buenos Aires since June 1883.[11]

His military missions include, the Combate de Aluminé, who was occurred on February 18, 1883, during tasks of exploration and topographical recognition, commanding by General Conrado Villegas in the Río Negro and Neuquén.[12]

Saturnino Canaveri was also involved in civil conflicts of the Argentina. During the Revolution of the Park remained loyal to the government, participating actively in the operations commanded by the General Nicolás Levalle against the revolutionaries.[13]

He obtained his promotion to captain in 1885,[14] and promoted to major on June 26, 1888.[15] In 1892 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, becoming part of the reserve forces of the Argentine army in 1896.[16]

In his long military career, Saturnino Canaveri was awarded several medals for his participation in the military campaigns of Río Negro, Chaco Province, Junín de los Andes, Buenos Aires Province and San Luis. He was retired from the army with the rank of lieutenant colonel[17] on January 5, 1900, after thirty-three years of active service.[18]

Saturnino Canaveri was married to her cousin Carmen Canavery, daughter of Adolfo Canavery and Carmen Martínez, belonging to an old family of Carmen de Areco. He and his wife were the parents of Aurora, Ana María[19] and Maria Esther Canaveri, born in 1898.[20]

Saturnino Canaveri belonged to distinguished families whose ancestors and relatives had served in the Army during the colonial and post colonial period of Argentina. His great grandfather Manuel Canaveris, an lieutenant of the Regiment of Patricians, had a short but distinguished military career initiated during the English Invasions, and finished during the period of the War of Independence.[21]

His grandfather Sinforoso Canaveri (1808-1872) also served in the army as second lieutenant in the 4° Batallón de Infanteria,[22] and in Batallón de Voluntarios Rebajados de Buenos Aires,[23] a military unit of Juan Manuel de Rosas, formed with former members of the Desert Campaigns of 1830.[24]

His father and grandfather, and his relatives Juan Manuel Canaveris and Feliciano Canaveris took part in the Argentine Civil War. Francisco Canaveris is cited with Alejandro Danel in "Ensayo histórico de la defensa de Buenos Aires: contra la rebelion del ex-coronel D. Hilario Lagos", a historical book about the Argentine civil wars, written by José Luis Bustamante.[25]

Saturnino Canaveri was a descendant of Domingo Brignole Pelliza, born by 1700 in Genoa, who served as Mayordomo in the Cabildo de Buenos Aires.[26] His maternal paternal great-grandfather had been the sergeant major Francisco Pelliza, an honorable member of the Argentine army, who participated in the wars for independence.[27]

He was brother of Héctor Canaveri and cousin of Ángel Canavery, two outstanding members of the army. He was related-in-law of Juan Gregorio Lemos,[28] a patriot who served under General José de San Martin,[29] and also of Baldomero Lamela Luengo, an officer of the army who had participated in the Paraguayan War.[30]

In 1945, his daughter Aurora Canaveri de González, was awarded a pension for the services provided by his father as Expeditionary to the Desert by decree signed by President Edelmiro Julián Farrell, and the Minister of War Juan Perón.[31]

Possibly his paternal ancestors in fifth or sixth generation were from Western and Central Europe. By the end of the 19th century his relatives settled in various places in the southern part of Greater Buenos Aires, including Adrogué, Banfield, Burzaco, Lomas de Zamora, Temperley.[32] His great grandfather Juan Domingo Jugluns de Canaverys, settled in the San Nicolás neighborhood since his arrival in Buenos Aires in 1772, and owned land in the town of Quilmes since the colonial period.[33]

• La revolución: antecedentes y consecuencias
• Bautismos 1852-1858
• Matrimonios 1886
• Argentina, Capital Federal, Census, 1855
• Argentina, National Census, 1869
• Argentina, National Census, 1895