Britain and the independence of the Bolivarian Republics

Dr Brown's latest book tells the life stories of those who served at the Battle of El Santuario, fought in Colombia in 1829

Press release issued: 15 August 2012

The independence of Colombia and Venezuela and the ways they are commemorated now is the focus of an afternoon and evening conference organised by the University of Bristol's Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at Canning House in London on 5 September 2012. The event is free and all are welcome.

Confirmed speakers include the ambassadors of Colombia and Venezuela, respectively Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera, and Samuel Moncada, Academic participants will include Daniel Gútierrez Ardila of the Universidad Externado de Colombia, and Edgardo Mondolfi Gudat of the Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela.

Dr Matthew Brown who is organising the conference, said: "The last five years have seen a lot of new research on the British contribution to the independence of the Bolivarian Republics (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama). The bicentennary of Simón Bolívar’s visit to London in 1810 brought this subject to public attention, with a major event hosted by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London as well as numerous talks, lectures and discussions in the UK, Venezuela and Colombia.

"As we move towards the bicentennial commemorations of the principal military contributions of British subjects to the independence movements between 1815 and 1824, this conference will bring academic, policy, descendent and diplomatic communities together to reflect and discuss future directions for both research and commemoration."

To register for the 'Britain and the Independence of the Bolivarian Republics' conference, to be held at Canning House in London on 5 September 2012: just click here. The event is free and open to everyone.