Mariscal Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana (1792-1865) was born near La Paz and a notable military leader during the Wars of Independence against the Spanish. He was temporarily the President of Peru in 1827 and Bolivian President from 1829-1839. During this time he made several attempts to unite Peru and Bolivia and from 1836-1839 was Supreme Protector of the short lived Peru-Bolivian Confederation.