Bernardo O'Higgins accepted the position instead, and became the leader of an independent Chile. He was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director on 16 February 1817. On 12 February 1818, Chile proclaimed itself an independent republic. Throughout the war with the royalists, O'Higgins had engaged in an ongoing feud with José Miguel Carrera. After their retreat in 1814, O'Higgins had fared much better than Carrera, who found little support forthcoming from San Martín, O'Higgins' political ally. Carrera was imprisoned to prevent his involvement in Chilean affairs; after his escape, he ended up taking the winning side in the Argentine Federalist war, helping
Jerónimo Bernardo de Quirós Jerónimo Bernardo de Quirós Jerónimo Bernardo de Quirós, O. Praem. (died 1617) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Pozzuoli (1604–1617) and Bishop of Castellammare di Stabia (1601–1604). Jerónimo Bernardo de Quirós was born in Spain and ordained a priest in the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré. On 28 January 1601, he was consecrated bishop by Antonmaria Sauli, Cardinal-Priest of Santo Stefano al Monte Celio, with Agostino Quinzio, Bishop of Korčula, and Giovanni Battista del Tufo, Bishop of Acerra, serving as co-consecrators. On 15 February 1601, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Clement VIII