Colonel George Elsom, Procer

Colonel George Elsom

Colonel George Elsom, Procer

London 1780 - Margarita (Nueva Esparta State) 09-13-1819

A London Timber Merchant, George Elsom served for a time in a militia regiment near London. Not much is known about him before he appeared on the stage of the Wars of Independence of the young South American nations. He arrived as if by accident, on 06-13-1818 on the Morgan Raltler, a ship that had cast away on the shores of the Orinoco River on its way to Angostura. He was a merchant of timber by profession in London, member of a numerous family. Since an early age he had handled the family wood business in the city; later he established himself independently in Halloway, expanding to other trades such as wine. He had been in the militias as a young volunteer cadet. In 1817 he enlisted as a hussar with Colonel Strenowitz, and in March 1818 he set sail to Venezuela as a newly pointed Captain. A few days after his arrival, (June 18th, 1818) he offered to General Simon Bolivar, to train in England an infantry battalion consisting of 500 + men, properly armed, trained and well-dressed according to British standards. Bolivar accepted his offer and after a few letters back and forth, conditions of the contract ensued: number of men, ranks assigned to them, salaries and time to serve were agreed upon. On June 25th, Bolivar issued Elsom with a passport that allowed him to return without drawbacks to London. Upon arriving in London late in August, he began the recruiting process, both in the British Isles, as well as on the Continent, to muster the promised battalions. In October, he had recruited and totally equipped for battle 2,200 men, in November of that same year 2 ships set sail for Venezuela, and a third followed on November 30th. At the beginning of 1819, another ship left for Venezuela carrying both men and goods (ammunition and provisions). On June 10th, 1819 Georg Elsom on the frigate «Hussareen», with Cap. Gibson at the helm, together with 20 top-brass troops and 100 privates, took to the sea on the long voyage to Venezuela (the act forbidding enlistment of armed men and export of weapons had been passed on May 13th, yet they managed to jump through the hurdles with this and other issues. It is said that they left in such a hurry, some of the enlisted troops did not have time to board). They reached the mouth of the Orinoco River (Serpent's mouth) on July 19th. As he climbed through the Orinoco River Upstream, Elsom was vitored. Upon arriving at Angostura, he was transported aboard a light craft to the Naval Admiralty that was awaiting for him, together with the Governor of Angostura. He was immediately introduced to the vice-president of Colombia, Dr. Francisco Antonio Zea, who gave him a warm welcome.

A few months later, he fell ill succumbing to yellow fever, and died in Margarita Island.

text by Pedro Luis Baldo D ; April 22nd, 2019