![\"Juan](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/200712F14.jpg\" "\\"Juan")
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Born in Buenos Aires in 1794, Juan Cruz Varela was sent by his parents to C\u00f3rdoba to become a priest. But Varela completed his studies in 1816 just as Argentina won its independence from Spain & so chose to participate politics & literary ventures instead. Many scholars have classified his odes & tragedies as the best early Argentine literature written. Works often tackled the topics of the day, mainly the revolutionary wars & struggles of the new nation. In “Canto l\u00edrico al triunfo de Ituzaing\u00f3<\/em>,” Varela describes General Carlos Alvear<\/a>‘s victorious battle against Brazil & later wrote a eulogy for Manuel Belgrano:<\/p>\n \u00bfOh, d\u00f3nde habitas, militar guerrero?<\/em> C\u00f3mo le has dado el golpe postrimero,<\/em> Que se encienda de nuevo, que se encienda<\/em> de tu afligida patria, pon la mano<\/em> As a friend & admirer of first President Bernardino Rivadavia, Varela was forced into exile with Rivadavia’s political defeat & the rise of Rosas. He died in Montevideo in 1839, & his remains were brought to Recoleta Cemetery after the defeat of Rosas.<\/p>\n An equally interesting descendant of Varela also buried in the family tomb is Dalmiro Varela Castex<\/strong>. A large plaque hints to his importance:<\/p>\n Dalmiro imported the first vehicle to Argentina in 1888, a steam-powered De Dion Bouton tricycle. In 1895 he imported a petrol-powered Benz four-wheeled vehicle & sold the tricycle to Marcelo T de Alvear<\/a>. Importing & selling vehicles would become Dalmiro’s passion. In 1904, he founded the first automotive group, the Automovil Club Argentino<\/a> (ACA) & was issued the first driver’s license in the nation:<\/p>\n For more info on Dalmiro & the history of automobiles in Argentina, Daniel Costa Deschamps<\/a> has written an interesting memoir on the topic (in English). Above photo courtesy of prewarbuick.com<\/a>. This tomb was declared a National Historic Monument<\/a> in 1946.<\/p>\n Update (08 Feb 2012):<\/strong> Apparently this tomb was downsized. Part of the original gate was maintained & the mourning woman statue placed on top of the whole structure. It’s always looked a bit odd to me & thanks to photo #371 of the Witcomb Collection<\/strong> now I understand why:<\/p>\n Born in Buenos Aires in 1794, Juan Cruz Varela was sent by his parents to C\u00f3rdoba to become a priest. But Varela completed his studies…<\/p>\n
\n\u00bfC\u00f3mo te fuiste, y hu\u00e9rfana dejaste<\/em>
\ntu amada patria, que a la vez libraste<\/em>
\ncon los cortantes filos de tu acero?<\/em><\/p>\n
\ne insensible a su llanto te ausentaste,<\/em>
\nabandonando al \u00faltimo contraste<\/em>
\nsu libertad, su honor, su bien entero.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nla antorcha de tu vida. Y si es en vano<\/em>
\nnuestro justo clamor en la contienda<\/em><\/p>\n
\nsobre quien te suceda, y la defienda.<\/em>
\n\u00a1Pero quien te sucede, gran Belgrano!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Juan](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/200712F13.jpg\" "\\"Juan")
<\/p>\n![\"Dalmiro](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/200712F15.jpg\" "\\"Dalmiro")
<\/p>\n![\"Dalmiro](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/varelapermiso.jpg\" "\\"Dalmiro")
<\/p>\n![\"Recoleta](\"https:\/\/recoletacemetery.com\/images\/WitcombVarela.jpg\" "\\"Recoleta")
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