Born: 1 November 1786, Argentina
Died: 23 October 1868
Country most active: Argentina
Also known as: Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson y de Mendeville
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Misia Mariquita Sanchez, as she was affectionately called by her familiars and friends, was the prototype of the old Argentine patrician lady, whose life was consecrated to the home, to the freedom of the country, and to the welfare of her fellow citizens. She was the leader of a women’s movement known in history as “The Rifles’ Plot.” In 1812 when the Argentine armies were defeated and the cause of independence seemed doomed, she called together the women of Buenos Aires. She enlisted them and, pooling their money, they bought American rifles and new supplies of ammunition for the soldiers. This inspiring effort renewed the enthusiasm and confidence of the soldiers and with this additional spur the armies were able to again face the enemy.
When the War of Independence was finally won she turned her energies and her work to social welfare activities. In 1823 President Rivadavia founded the “Sociedad de Beneficencia” and turned the enterprise over to Maria Sanchez de Mendeville — she had remarried by that time. Under her leadership that organization achieved a great success; following her policies and animated by her undying spirit, the institution has grown in such a way that it is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, social welfare organization in the world.
For more than half a century she gave all her time to the improvement of social conditions in a nation still in the stage of making; she was President of the “Sociedad de Beneficencia for many years, and was successful in organizing schools and hospitals. The country at this time was divided, one faction fighting against another and Misia Mariquita Sanchez was always active in her efforts for peace and understanding. More than once she prevented bloody clashes. Before her death she had the privilege and the happiness of seeing that her efforts had not been vain. Civil Wars came to an end and the country moved forward with a tremendous force.