The purpose of this article is to examine the diary of the Grenadian General Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840), one of the leaders of the independence of Colombia, written in the first half of the nineteenth century. Among the themes he favors in his writings, I chose to highlight his thoughts on the political situation in Colombia as well his notes about Bolivar. The two generals quarreled about the government of the independent regions from Spanish rule and this disagreement led to the arrest of Santander and his judgment for treason and his condemnation to death. The sentence was commuted by Bolivar, exchanged for exile in Europe, and that experience is reported in his diary.
Francisco de Paula Santander; Simon Bolivar; diary; exile