Luisa Recabarren de Marin (1777-1839)

Chilian patriot, Luisa Recabarren (ray-cah-bar'-ren) was born in 1777 in La Serena. She became an orphan at the age of eight years old and was educated by her uncle, Estanislao Recabarren. In 1796 she married Dr. Jose Gaspar Marin, in whose house she aided in preparing for tile events of 18 Sep 1810. 

In October 1814, when the Spaniards overcame the patriots, Marin went into hiding. Luisa continued to live in their house, attending to the education of their children, but slipped out to meet him. Eventually he went into exile across the Andes to Mendoza. Luisa remained in Santiago, attending to the education of their children: Ventura Marín became a writer and philosopher, Francisco an orator and statesman and Mercedes Marín de Solar, "una de las poetisas más inspiriadas y fecundas de América. (Knaster states she was the mother of Amelia Solar de Claro.)

Luisa's wealth was confiscated by the Spaniards. Patriots nonetheless continued to meet in her house to hear news of the exiles that was brought in letters from Marín to Recabarren. She kept Marín informed about political developments and also wrote to Manuel Rodríguez. 

In the last days of 1816, authorities captured the correspondence of patriots in Melipilla and found a letter from San Martin for Luisa, together with a list in cipher of the persons concerned in the conspiracy against the government. Luisa was interrogated, but gave nothing away. By order of Marco del Pont she was arrested on 4 Jan 1817 and imprisoned in the Monasterio de las Agustinas (convent of the Augustine nuns). She left jail in triumph on 12 Feb 1817 when the republican army defeated the Spaniards. 

Luisa lived afterward greatly honored by the public. She survived her husband by only three months, dying in Santiago on 31 May 1839.