![\"General](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/200804B01.jpg\" "\\"General")
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Built by Alejandro Christophersen<\/a>, this gargantuan granite temple has housed the remains of the Alvear family over three generations. Its size adequately reflects the importance of this family. A nearby avenue named after them is synonymous for upper class elegance with expensive design shops, a few embassies, & the Jockey Club all sharing the same address.<\/p>\n The general referred to on the cornice was Carlos Mar\u00eda de Alvear<\/strong>, a controversial fighter for Argentine independence & frequently at odds with founding father Jos\u00e9 de San Mart\u00edn. With a life worthy of being made into an epic movie, Carlos acquired the status of national hero for winning campaigns during the 1827 Argentina-Brazil War. He died in Washington, DC in 1852 while serving Argentina’s first ambassador to the United States.<\/p>\n One of Carlos’s most important sons was Torcuato de Alvear<\/strong>, also buried in the family mausoleum. As the first mayor of Buenos Aires after it became the nation’s capital, Torcuato instituted wide-sweeping improvements: constructing Avenida de Mayo down the middle of a city block, demolishing the old marketplace in the main square, & commissioning the large entrance gate<\/a> for Recoleta Cemetery. Since Torcuato ordered cemetery improvements, he made sure to place his family’s mausoleum in front.<\/p>\n One of Torcuato’s sons became President in 1922. Marcelo T. de Alvear<\/strong> is remembered for leading a period of economic & cultural prosperity. Although part of the upper class, Marcelo became instrumental in shaping the Socialist-leaning Uni\u00f3n C\u00edvica Radical party.<\/p>\n
![\"General](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/200805B40.jpg\" "\\"General")
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