On 3 March 1857, Admiral Guillermo Brown, a central figure in Argentine naval history and recognised as the Father of the Argentine Navy, passed away. 169 years after his death, the nation remembers one of the main protagonists in the defence of sovereignty at sea during the early years of independence.

Born on 22 June 1777 in Foxford, Ireland, Brown developed a close relationship with maritime activity from a young age. After emigrating with his family to North America and being orphaned, he began his career at sea, an experience that would shape his character and vocation. In 1809, he arrived in the Río de la Plata, where he settled and definitively embraced the revolutionary cause that began in 1810.

In 1814, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of the Patriot Fleet. From this position, he led decisive actions to secure control of the waters of the Plata, including the capture of Martín García Island and the victory in the battle of El Buceo, which were decisive in the surrender of the royalist troops in Montevideo.

During the war against the Brazilian Empire (1825-1828), he reorganised a fleet practically from scratch and commanded key battles such as Los Pozos, Juncal and Monte Santiago, consolidating the defence of Argentine interests in the naval sphere. His leadership, strategic audacity and steadfastness in combat earned him a prominent place in the country's military history.

Throughout his life, Brown was repeatedly called upon to protect Argentina's coasts and rivers from external threats. His conduct was guided by a deep sense of duty and an unwavering conviction in the defence of national sovereignty.

On the 169th anniversary of his death, Argentina honours the memory of Admiral Guillermo Brown, whose legacy lives on in the values and traditions of the Argentine Navy, an institution that recognises him as the origin and inspiration of its permanent mission in the service of the homeland.