After a public meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentinians set up an autonomous local government in opposition to Spanish forces

José Gervasio Artigas lays siege to the Spanish forces in Montevideo, beginning Uruguay's long struggle for independence

The citizens of Bogotá expel the local Spanish officials and declare their loyalty to the deposed Ferdinand VII

The parish priest of Dolores sparks a rebellion against the Spanish authorities in Mexico with his Grito de Dolores

Masked Luddites smash machinery in night raids on factories in Nottingham

The citizens of Bogotá declare the independence of the province of Colombia

The colonists of Paraguay throw out their Spanish governor and declare independence

The Spanish authorities recover control of Venezuela, ending the region's first brief spell of independence

Simon Bolívar publishes the Manisfesto de Cartagena, calling on the citizens of New Granada to unite and expel the Spaniards

Bolívar defeats the Spanish forces in Venezuela and is welcomed in Caracas as the Liberator

Rebels meeting for a conference in Chilpancingo proclaim a short-lived Mexican independence

José San Martín becomes commander of the patriot army of Argentina, replacing Manuel Belgrano

The Spanish recapture Caracas, after which Bolívar moves southwest to advance on Bogotá, now held again by the Spanish

Spanish forces at Rancagua defeat a Chilean army commanded by Bernardo O'Higgins, who escapes across the Andes into Argentina

Bolívar recaptures Bogotá from the recently returned Spanish troops

The Spanish suppress the independence movement in Mexico with the capture and execution of its leader, Jose Maria Morelos

The Spanish recover Bogotá yet again and Bolívar flees into exile in Jamaica

The independence of Argentina is formally proclaimed, dropping any pretence of remaining loyal to the Spanish king

San Martín and O'Higgins lead an army through the Andes into Chile and capture Santiago

Bolívar returns to Venezuela and builds up an army of liberation in a remote region up the Orinoco

Bolívar marches his army across the Andes, captures Bogotá and proclaims the republic of Gran Colombia

A second liberal revolution in Spain ends with Ferdinand VII a prisoner of the Cortes in Cadiz

An uprising in Greece against Turkish rule is followed by the massacre of several thousand Muslims

San Martín enters Lima and proclaims Peruvian independence with himself as 'Protector'

Bolívar defeats the Spanish at Carabobo and liberates, for the second time, his native city of Caracas