Simon Bolivar was born in Caracas, New Grenada (now known as Venezuela), on July 24, 1783, son of prominent military Colonel Juan Vicente Bolivar y Ponte and Concepcion Palacios Blanco. He came from a wealthy family who earned their money from rich gold and copper mines in Venezuela. Bolivar lost both of his parents at a rather young age and was forced to live with relatives by the age of 12. He was privileged to have befriended the headmaster at an elementary school where he studied writing, arithmetic, history, religion and Latin.
At the age of 14, Bolivar joined the Battalion in the White Militia in the Aragua, a battalion that his own father headed up years before as the Colonel. It is apparent that Bolivar was an intelligent and well respected young man as he was promoted to Second Lieutenant within his first year of service. Bolivar moved to Spain in 1799 following the death of his parents where he went to further his education. It is clear that education was important and instrumental in the life of Simon Bolivar. When he moved to Madrid to continue his studies he did more than basic courses and standard learning. He studied in classical and modern literature, in-depth studies of history that no doubt aided in molding him into the exceptional military person was that he was.
In Madrid he met the love of his life, Maria Teresa Rodriguez del Toro y Alayza. They married a short time later on May 26, 1802. Bolivar then began to journey back to Venezuela with Maria to build their lives and their family; however, in January of 1803 Maria contracted yellow fever and died. Following Maria's death Bolivar decided to leave Venezuela once again and moved to Paris in the spring. While studying in his earlier years in Madrid, Simon Bolivar also become very well versed and comfortable in social settings which came into great play in his new life in Paris. He attended many balls, parties, and theatrical events where he shared his time between meeting beautiful women and increasing his knowledge and interest in world events.
