María Dominga Sáez Pérez

Born on 19 November 1800, in Oriental Province, Argentina, the daughter of Josefa Pérez and Francisco Sáez, she married Luis Vernet, a German merchant, on 17 August 1819. Vernet obtained vast land in the Soledad and Estados islands, (Malvinas) to set up an agricultural and livestock colony. He became governor of the archipelago on 10 June 1829. On 14 July 1829 she, her children and servants arrived at Puerto Luis, Soledad Island and for the rest of the year she kept a diary of her impressions. Her daughter, Matilde ("Malvina") was the first Argentinean born in the Malvinas (1830). They were harassed by the North American fishermen and returned to Buenos Aires. Shortly afterwards the islands were taken by English invading forces and they were unable to return. They lived in Brazil for a time before returning to Buenos Aires where she died on 25 March 1858. (Sosa de Newton, 568-569) Mother of Malvina Vernet.

Life Events

Born 1800 She was born on 19 November 1800, in Oriental Province.

Married 1819 She married Luis Vernet on 17 August 1819.

Other 1829 On 14 July 1829 she arrived in the Islas Malvinas.

Other 1830 She gave birth to the first Argentine born in the Malvinas.

Died 1858 She died in Buenos Aires on 25 March 1858.

References

Sosa de Newton, Lily, (1986), Diccionario biográfico de mujeres argentinas

Her original diary of her stay on the Malvinas in 1829 is in the Archivo Nacional in Buenos Aires, together with several folders of the papers of her husband Luis Vernet. [Viewed by Karen Fox in June 2013.]