Juan Ángel Michelena (Argentine officer)

Michelena was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the son of a distinguished family of Basque-Creole roots. He had an active participation during the Emancipatory Wars, serving in the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers.[3] He fought under the command of General José de San Martín, taking part in the Battle of Torata and Moquegua.[4] He also participated in all the military actions produced during the Brazilian War, and the Argentine Civil Wars, where he took an active part in the confrontations between Unitarians and Federals, serving in the armies of both sides.[5]

Enlisted in the Unitary Army, he served under the command of Federico Rauch, taking part in the Battle of the Vizcacheras against Confederate troops.

He was promoted to Captain in 1832, and Lieutenant Colonel in 1851,[6] participating the following year of the Battle of Caseros, under General Justo José de Urquiza.[7]

Juan Ángel Michelena was married to Juana María Canaveri,[8] daughter of Lieutenant Manuel Canaveris and María de los Ángeles Rodríguez Calderón. He is erroneously cited as a son of Juan Angel de Michelena y Moreno (possible relative), a soldier loyal to Spain who fought against the revolutionary patriotic forces.[9]

His wife was a member of the Sociedad de Beneficencia Unión y Caridad, a charitable society to assist the victims of the 1880 Revolution. This society was made up of distinguished Buenos Aires ladies, among whom were Victoria Pueyrredon de Lynch, president of the entity, Sara Carranza de Albarracin and Josefina Pelliza de Sagasta.[10]

His daughter Francisca Michelena Cabrera was married to Domingo Cabrera Méndez, a direct descendant of the conqueror Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. Through the Cabrera family, the Michelena Canaveri lineage is linked directly and indirectly with the families Williams-González Balcarce, Merro Burzaco[11] and Rocha Villanueva - Grondona Gowland.[12]

• Argentina, Capital Federal, Census, 1855
• Argentina, National Census, 1869
• Defunciones 1872-1873