El primer humanista americano Andrés Bello was a preeminent 19th-century Latin American humanist, intellectual, and influential figure in Hispanic American culture. Initially Bolívar’s tutor, Bello dedicated his long life to extensive reading and study, encompassing classical and contemporary European thought. His extensive contributions spanned poetry, law, politics, and education, leaving a lasting impact on Hispanic America.

• Andrés Bello (1781-1865) is celebrated as Latin America’s first great humanist and the most influential Hispanic American intellectual of the 19th century.
• He served as a tutor to Simón Bolívar in his youth.
• Bello lived a long life, dying at 84, significantly exceeding the average life expectancy of his time.
• His intellectual development was shaped by Neoclassicism and Romanticism, leading him to self-study French and English to access original European texts.
• He was deeply interested in culture, law, politics, and education, reflecting the broader impact of Romanticism on society.
• Bello spent a significant period in London (ages 29-48), witnessing firsthand the Industrial Revolution in England and the French Revolution’s impact on arts and politics.
• His most significant literary works include the poems “La Alocución a la poesía” (1823) and “La agricultura de la zona tórrida” (1826).
• In Chile, he held prominent positions, including writing the Chilean Civil Code and founding the University of Chile.
• His legacy endures as a crucial reference point in 19th-century humanistic studies in Hispanic America.