On a day like today, but in 1906, Bartolomé Mitre, who was president of all Argentines between 1862 and 1868, died in Buenos Aires. He went down in history as one of the leaders of the Unitary Party, which opposed federalism as a system of government in the Argentine Republic.

He became president on an interim basis after winning the decisive Battle of Pavón in 1861 during Argentina's civil wars, putting an end to the Argentine Confederation and consolidating the unification of the country. Despite having defeated the forces of Justo José de Urquiza, Mitre did not seek to modify the liberal essence of the National Constitution promulgated on 1 May 1853, which allowed Argentina to continue its process of economic growth, political openness and poverty reduction.

His figure also transcends history for the repeated revolutionary attempts against the governments of the National Autonomist Party; the Revolution of 1874, the Revolution of 1880, and the Park Revolution of 1890. During this period he also founded the Unión Cívica, which would eventually become the basis of one of the most important parties in Argentine history, the Unión Cívica Radical.

The presidential bust with a hole in its forehead

The bust of the former president, a sculpture made by the artist Francisco Cafferata, is located in the Hall of Honour, also known as the Gallery of the Busts of the Casa Rosada, where the President of the Nation, ministers and special guests enter the esplanade.

Mitre's bust has a hole in its forehead that responds to a wound he suffered on 2 June 1853, when he was hit by a bullet in the battle of Langdon. According to testimonies, he saved his life thanks to a metal cockade that his wife, Delfina de Vedia, had sewn inside his military cap. The shell hit the cockade, which cushioned the blow and saved his life.

To conceal the scar on his head, he wore a chambergo (a soft, relatively low-crowned hat with one or both brims folded over and fastened to the crown with clips or brooches), which became a classic feature of his persona, to the point that he wore it to the Paraguayan War.

About Bartolomé Mitre (1821-1906)

Mitre was a figure of great importance in the public life of Argentina. In addition to being president of the Nation and governor of the province of Buenos Aires, he was a senator, statesman, diplomat, military man, historian of the independence movement and founder of the newspaper La Nación.

During his presidential term (1862-1868), Mitre reformed the National Constitution in 1866; sanctioned the Compromise Law, establishing the residence of the national authorities in Buenos Aires; implemented the Code of Civil and Commercial Procedures; organised the Supreme Court of Justice; reorganised the Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires; nationalised the Customs of Buenos Aires; and commissioned Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield to draft the Civil Code.

Between March 1865 and January 1868, Mitre took leave of absence when he was appointed General-in-Chief to command the national troops in the Paraguayan War, also known as the War of the Triple Alliance (a coalition formed by Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina).

During his government, he extended and unified secondary education, founding national schools in the provinces of Salta, Tucumán, Mendoza, San Juan and Catamarca, and promoted the National School of Buenos Aires. In addition, Mitre initiated the construction of the Central Argentino Railway (from Rosario to Córdoba) and the Southern Railway, among other works.

Mitre died at the age of 84, after suffering a serious illness for two months. His remains were laid to rest at the Casa Rosada.