hiː ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒd ɪn bˈɪznəs tˈɪl ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv twˈɛntisˈɪks, wˌɛn hiː ɛnlˈɪstᵻd ɪnðɪ ˈɑːɹmi, tˈeɪkɪŋ pˈɑːɹt ɪnðə ɹᵻsˈɪstəns ɐɡˈɛnst ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ ɪnvˈeɪʒənz ʌvðə ɹˈiːoʊ də lˌæ plˈɑːɾə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪks wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvən.
He engaged in business till the age of twenty-six, when he enlisted in the army, taking part in the resistance against the British invasions of the Río de la Plata (1806–1807).