Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (born July 24, 1783 in Caracas, New Granada – died December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Colombia) was a leader of several independence movements throughout South America, collectively known as Bolívar's War.
Bolívar is credited with leading the fight for independence in what are now the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia. Despite his terror tactics (outlined in his famous Decree of war to the death) which would today constitute war crimes and genocide, he is revered as a hero in these countries and throughout much of the rest of Hispanic America.