One of the major figures in the independence movement in Latin America, Jose de San Martin was an excellent military tactician who became a national hero in many of the new countries. He was born in what is now northern Argentina. For two years, through 1811, he served as a soldier for Spain, mostly in Europe. In 1812 he returned to Buenos Aires to join the forces fighting for liberation. After defeating the Spanish in several battles near Buenos Aires, he concentrated on freeing Peru from Spain. He confused the Spanish by crossing the Andes and decisively defeated the Spanish in Chile. Not interested in governing, after meeting with Simon Bolivar at Guayquil in 1822, San Martin withdrew from Peru and later in the year went into voluntary exile in Europe.