Simón Bolívar was born on this day in Caracas in 1783. In 1819 he became the first ruler of Colombia, which then encompassed all of present-day Colombia, Panamá, Ecuador, and Venezuela, as well as parts of Guyana, Brazil, and Perú. In addition, Bolívar is also credited with being the liberator of Perú and Bolivia. Bolívar died in Santa Marta on December 17, 1830. He was only 47.
