Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (1783 – 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader and one of the most famous figures in events leading to the independence of South America. He is still revered across much of the continent and known as El Libertador / The Liberator. Bolivia is named after him and he was briefly the country's first president (from 12th August 1825 to 29 December 1825).