result of her efforts. She and a number of friends also designed the military unit's banner, after San Martín commented on his lack of one during a Christmas 1816 dinner. She gave birth to the couple's only child, Mercedes Tomasa San Martín y Escalada (1816 — 1875), on August 16 of that year. San Martín's departure towards Chile as leader of the historic Crossing of the Andes in January 1817 again led to a prolonged separation from his wife. This burden was compounded by her developing tuberculosis in early 1819, and on March 24, her worsening state compelled her to return to Buenos Aires, where she expected to die. The commander of the Army of the North, General Manuel Belgrano, had General José María Paz escort her party for the 600 mile (970 km) journey, for the sake of protection against highwaymen and other perils. Following his tenure from 1821 to 1822 as Head of State of the Protectorate of Peru, General San Martín returned to Mendoza and, in January 1823, planned to journey to Buenos Aires, where his wife lay bedridden. Misgivings in Buenos Aires towards the Liberator remained, however, from his 1820 refusal to intervene militarily on behalf of the besieged Directorate prior to their downfall. Receiving San Martín's petition for safe conduct in his journey to visit his dying wife, Minister of Government Bernardino Rivadavia refused. Undaunted, San Martín left for Buenos Aires, although upon his arrival, was informed that his wife had recently died; she was 25. María Remedios de Escalada was buried at the La Recoleta Cemetery, and San Martín departed for Le Havre, France, the following February; he died in exile in 1850. References Bibliography Sosa de Newton, Lily. Diccionario Biográfico de Mujeres Argentinas. Buenos Aires: Editorial Plus Ultra, 1972. Historical Dictionary of Argentina. London: Scarecrow Press, 1978. 1797 births 1823 deaths People from Buenos Aires Argentine people of Spanish descent 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis Burials at La Recoleta Cemetery José de San Martín Tuberculosis deaths in Argentina Patricias Argentinas