English Argentine

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Anglo-Argentines

Notable Anglo-Argentines Carlos Babington · Jorge Luis Borges · Roberto Marcelo Levingston · Olivia Hussey
Total population
300,000
Regions with significant populations
Mainly Buenos Aires
Languages
English and Spanish
Religion
Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
English, Scottish Argentine, Welsh Argentine

English Argentines (also known as Anglo Argentines) are citizens of Argentina who can claim ancestry originating in England. The English settlement in Argentina (the arrival of English emigrants ),^[1] took place in the period after Argentina's independence from Spain through the 19th century. Unlike many other waves of immigration to Argentina, English immigrants were not usually leaving England because of poverty or persecution, but went to Argentina as industrialists and major landowners.^[1] Argentina in the Victorian age was part of the United Kingdom's informal empire, an independent nation that Britain had economic influence in, that was outside the British Empire.^[2] However the English Argentines position was complicated when their economic influence was finally eroded by Juan Perón's nationalisation of many British-owned companies in the 1940s and, more recently, by the Falklands War in 1982. Famous Argentines such as adventurer Lucas Bridges, Huracan football club president Carlos Babington, former military dictator Roberto Marcelo Levingston and writer Jorge Luis Borges are of English descent. Carlos Pellegrini, a president of Argentina, was a British Latin American through his mother.

[edit] English immigration

English settlers arrived in Buenos Aires in 1806 (then a Spanish colony) in small numbers, mostly as businessmen, when Argentina was an emerging nation and the settlers were welcomed for the stability they brought to commercial life. As the 19th century progressed more English families arrived many bought land to develop the potential of the Argentine pampas for the large-scale growing of crops. The English founded banks, developed the export trade in crops and animal products and imported the luxuries that the growing Argentine middle classes sought.^[3]

As well as those who went to Argentina as industrialists and major landowners, others went as railway engineers, civil engineers and to work in banking and commerce.^[1] Others went to become whalers, missionaries and simply to seek out a future. English families sent second and younger sons, or what were described as the black sheep of the family, to Argentina to make their fortunes in cattle and wheat. ^[2] English settlers introduced football to Argentina.^[2] Some English families owned sugar plantations.^[1]

[edit] Background

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Argentina, in a treaty of 1825. English arrivals and investment played a large part in the development of the rail and tramways of Argentina, and of Argentine agriculture, livestock breeding, processing, refrigeration and export.^[4] At one point in the 19th century, ten per cent of the UK's foreign investment was in Argentina, despite not being a colony. In 1939, 39% of investment in Argentina was British.^[5]

Constitución railway station in Buenos Aires. Opened in 1907 by British developers, it is the busiest station in Argentina.

English culture, or a version of it as perceived from outside, had a noted effect on the culture of Argentina mainly the middle classes. In 1888 local Anglo-Argentines established the Hurlingham Club, based on its namesake in London. The city of Hurlingham, Buenos Aires and Hurlingham Partido grew up around the club in Buenos Aires Province and took their names from the club.

In 1912 Harrods opened a department store in Buenos Aires; the only Harrods ever opened outside of London. Harrods Buenos Aires became independent of Harrods in the 1940s but still traded under the Harrods name.

Harrods on Florida Street. Opened in 1912 as their only overseas branch, it closed in 1996 and is now an exhibition hall.

Afternoon tea became standard amongst large segments of the population and generated the popular "merienda", an afternoon snack, (also known simply as "la leche" - milk) because it was served with the tea or as chocolate milk along with the sweets). The Richmond café on Florida Street is a notable tea venue near the Harrods department store, now turned into an exhibition hall.^[6]

Gardened chalets built by railway executives near railway stations in suburbs such as Banfield, Munro, Ranelagh and Hurlingham gave a pointed English atmosphere to local areas in Buenos Aires, especially in winter when shrouded in grey mists and fallen oak leaves over cobblestones. Also suburban train stations and Victorian terminals like Estación Retiro in Retiro, Buenos Aires and Estación Constitución, as well as the numerous countryside stations in the Pampas.

Around 100,000 Anglo-Argentines are the descendants of English immigrants to Argentina.^[6]. They are one of the most successful immigrant groups of Argentina, gaining prominence in commerce, industry, and the professions. Many are noted by their ability to speak English in family circles, with an undistinguishable English accent. A respected English language newspaper, the Buenos Aires Herald, continues to be published daily in Buenos Aires.

Anglo-Argentines have traditionally differed from their fellow Argentines by largely retaining strong ties with their mother country, including education and commerce. ^[7] Some schools in Argentina are bilingual offering both English language and Spanish language, including St. Mark's College, Monte Grande, Balmoral College, St. Albans College, St.Georges College and Washington School, Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires had a number of "Cultural Inglesa" branches (English Cultural Association), and English language learning and teaching in state schools and private institutions was invariably geared towards the Received Pronunciation or Queen's English throughout the 20th century. Blue blazers and grey flannels are still used as uniforms in most private schools. There is also the Buenos Aires High School.^[8]

The Anglo-Argentine Society, based in London, was founded in 1948 and has about 900 members. It is a society for Argentine people living in the United Kingdom, particularly those of Anglo-Argentine heritage. One of its main aims is to promote understanding and friendship between the two countries.^[9]

Coghlan, Buenos Aires was originally inhabited by English and Irish immigrants. It is known for its large, English style residences. Caballito, Buenos Aires contains an area called the "English District".

In 1794, the British Empire opened a consulate in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires, leading to the development of a large British community in the area, which became known as the "English borough." They founded the English Merchants' Society in 1810 and the British Consulate became home to the first modern bank in Buenos Aires, in 1822

[edit] World War II

During World War II, 4,000 Argentines served with all three British armed services, even though Argentina was officially a neutral country during the war.^[10][11] Over 600 Argentine volunteers served with both the Royal Air Force and the Canadian Air Force, mostly in the 164 Argentine-British RAF squadron^[12], whose shield bore the sun from the Flag of Argentina and the motto, "Determined We Fly (Firmes Volamos)".^[10]

Many members of the Anglo-Argentine community also volunteered in non-combat roles, or worked to raise money and supplies for British troops. In April 2005 a special remembrance service was held at the RAF church of St Clement Danes in London.^[11]

[edit] Falklands War

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The Torre de los Ingleses (English Tower), now officially known as Torre Monumental (Monumental Tower) in Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force Square)

During the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas), Anglo-Argentines were questioned about their allegiance and diplomatic relations between the two countries were halted, although they have been normalised since then. However, some Anglo-Argentines fought in the Argentine Armed Forces against their ancestral homeland.

The Plaza San Martín in Retiro, Buenos Aires features a memorial for the dead of the Falklands War. Within the park is Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force Square) where the Torre de los Ingleses (English Tower) is located, a monument donated by the Anglo-Argentine community for the 1910 centenary celebrations. The tower was previously named Torre de los Ingleses (English Tower) but was renamed Torre Monumental (Monumental Tower) in 1982, though some Argentines still refer to it as the Torre de los Ingleses. It features a relief of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom at the bottom. This monument has been the object of several acts of sabotage in the wake of the Falklands conflict. The park was previously named Plaza Británica (British Square) but was renamed Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force Square) in 1982, though some Argentines still refer to it as the Plaza Británica.

[edit] English place names

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A number of towns, villages and cities have English place names. These include Banfield which is named after Edward Banfield. Hurlingham, Buenos Aires and Hurlingham Partido took their name from the Hurlingham Club (Argentina) around which the city of Hurlingham grew. Others include the town of Washington and City Bell, a small town in La Plata partido, Buenos Aires province, which was founded around 1900 by English immigrants and which is named after its founder, George Bell. Temperley is named after the industrial and textile merchant George Temperley, who was born in 1823 in Newcastle upon Tyne in England. He helped to create Lomas de Zamora Partido and made possible the foundation of the town of Temperley. Allen, Río Negro is named after Charles Allen who managed the construction of the city's train station.

[edit] Sport

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Sports such as football, tennis, rugby union, hockey, golf, cricket and polo were introduced to Argentina by English settlers.

San Andrés Golf Club, San Martín, Buenos Aires Province.

[edit] Polo

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Polo was first played in Argentina at the Hurlingham Club and the Argentine Polo Association was founded at the club in 1922. Argentina has since become a dominant power in international polo, and the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo has been held annually since 1893 at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Buenos Aires.

[edit] Football

Alumni Athletic Club football team in 1910

English railway workers from Northern England founded the Buenos Aires Football Club on 9 May 1867 in Temple Street (now Viamonte) at a meeting organised by brothers Thomas and James Hogg who were originally from Yorkshire. The first football match to be played in Argentina was played at the Buenos Aires Cricket Club in Palermo, Buenos Aires on 20 June 1867. The match was played between two teams of British merchants, the White Caps and the Red Caps.^[13]

Alumni Athletic Club was founded in 1891 as Buenos Aires English High School, and the club was the most successful in the amateur era in Argentina. The club took part in the inaugural Association Football League (AAFL) league in 1893 and played again in 1895 and 1900, under the name English High School. In 1901 they changed their name to Alumni. They continued to play in the league until the club were disbanded in 1911. The AAFL later became the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino.

Evidence of the influence of English settlers in Argentine football can be seen by club names, and the tradition of giving clubs English names, such as All Boys, Club Atlético Banfield, Chaco For Ever, Newell's Old Boys, Racing Club, San Telmo, River Plate and Temperley.

A number of clubs were founded by English settlers, including -

• Club Ferrocarril Midland was founded on 28 June 1914 by English railway workers of the Buenos Aires Midland Railway.
• Ferro Carril Oeste was founded by English railway workers of the Buenos Aires Western Railway on 29 July 1904.
• Newell's Old Boys was founded in 1903 and named by former pupils of the English High School of Rosario in homage to its director and football coach, English immigrant Isaac Newell.^[14]
• Rosario Central was founded as the Central Argentine Railway Athletic Club on 24 December 1889 by English railway workers of the Central Argentine Railway.^[14]
• Talleres de Córdoba was founded in 1913 as Atlético Talleres Central Córdoba by English workers of the Córdoba Central Railway.

[edit] Religion

[edit] Anglican church in Argentina

Anglican churches were established in Argentina in the early 19th century to give a chaplaincy service to expatriate workers living in Argentina. In 1824 permission was given to hold Anglican church services and in 1831 St. John's Church was built in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires^{[1] [15]} on land donated in 1830 by Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas for the benefit of the new St. John the Baptist Anglican Church. It is the oldest in existence in Buenos Aires.

English naval captain and Christian missionary, Allen Gardiner founded the Patagonia Mission (later to be renamed the South American Missionary Society) in 1844 to recruit, send, and support Christian missionaries. His first mission, which included a surgeon and three fishermen was sent to the Yaghans on the island of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. They arrived at Picton island in Tierra del Fuego in December 1850 but their food began to run out. They had expected scheduled supplies, however they did not arrive and by September 1851, they had died from sickness and hunger. The Patagonia Mission continued and in 1854 changed its name to the South American Missionary Society.^[1]

In January 1869, the Society established a mission at Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego under its superintendent, Waite Hockin Stirling.^[16] On 21 December 1869 Stirling was ordained at Westminster Abbey as the first Bishop of the Falkland Islands and at the time had episcopal authority over the whole of South America, until power shifted to the Bishop of Buenos Aires.^[15] In 1914, the first mission, Misión Chaqueña, was founded in the north of Argentina.

The Anglican Diocese of Argentina is part of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of America and is headed by the current Bishop of Buenos Aires.^[15]

[edit] Notable English Argentines

Notable English Argentines include -

• Carlos Babington - former footballer. Known as "El Inglés" (The Englishman).
• Susan Barrantes - was the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York.
• Jorge Luis Borges - author and poet.
• Lucas Bridges - author and explorer.
• Donald Forrester - cricketer.
• John Godwin - Sub-Lieutenant in the British Royal Naval Reserve in World War II who was brought up in Argentina.
• Andrew Graham-Yooll - author, currently works for Perfil.
• Diego Hartfield - tennis player.
• Olivia Hussey - actress best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet.
• Roberto Marcelo Levingston - former member of the Argentine Army who was self-appointed as de facto president (i.e., dictator) of Argentina from 18 June 1970 to 22 March 1971.
• Olga Casares Pearson - actress.
• Carla Peterson - actress.
• Julio Porter - screenwriter and film director, known for being one of the most prolific screenwriters and film directors in the history of the Cinema of Argentina.
• Collier Twentyman Smithers - was a portrait, figure and rustic painter.
• René Strickler - actor.

[edit] Gallery

Buenos Aires English High School

View of the "New Liverpool" section of the city of Bahia Blanca

Neo-gothic architecture in Palermo, Buenos Aires, an area popular among "well-to-do" Argentines

Tree lined street in City Bell

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Anglo-Argentine Society website
• Buenos Aires Herald, English language newspaper
• Immigration to Argentina-Report-Yale