On 3 May 1784, a key figure in Argentine history was born in Buenos Aires: Vicente López y Planes. Although most Argentines remember him as the author of the lyrics of the National Anthem, his influence on the early years of the free nation was much more profound and far-reaching.

The son of a Creole family, López y Planes was educated at the prestigious Colegio Real de San Carlos and later earned a doctorate in law at the University of Chuquisaca. From an early age he was actively involved in public life. His commitment to the defence of the territory led him to enlist as an officer in the Regiment of Patricios, where he stood out during the English invasions, contributing bravely to the Creole resistance. After the Porteño victory, he composed the poem El triunfo argentino (The Argentine Triumph).

But his life was not limited to the battlefield or to patriotic poetry. López y Planes had an extensive and outstanding political career. He was part of the Board of Representatives of Buenos Aires and worked closely with key figures such as Juan Martín de Pueyrredón and Juan José Paso. He held key positions in the public administration, such as Minister of Finance and President of the House of Representatives. In 1827, he provisionally assumed the presidency of the Republic after the resignation of Bernardino Rivadavia, at a time of political and institutional crisis that called for temperance and leadership.

His most enduring legacy was undoubtedly the lyrics of the Argentine National Anthem, the original version of which was approved by the Assembly of Year XIII on 11 May 1813, with music composed by Blas Parera. Its verses echo the spirit of emancipation and the yearning for freedom of a people that was making its way as a sovereign nation.

Vicente López y Planes died on 10 October 1856 in Buenos Aires. 241 years after his birth, we remember him as a man of word, action and commitment to his country. His figure remains alive in the symbols, institutions and values that define us as Argentines.