Argentina.  An essay by Romero Anton MontAlban-Anderssen.

I love Argentina. I've been all up and down the country, from the Tierra del Fuego to the border with Uruguay.  My relatives used to always talk about Agentina when I was a small child.  Every time there was a death in the family, two history teacher relatives would always show up and try to record family history.  They told stories how the patriarch of the family, Revolutionary War Soldier William Beazley was a hero, and how the Beazley family went to Buenos Aires, Argentina and became famous.​​  I've never been into war history, battles, guns, etc., so I wasn't terribly interested in what they had to say, but they always put documents in my hands, hoping someone would preserve family history after their deaths. 

There was no such thing as internet back then, or cheap cams or the sort, so most of the data the old teachers spent their entire lives researching was written on paper then thrown away after their deaths. No one in the family really cared.  I guess Argentina was so far away, no one in the family ever dreamed they'd spend time there, like I have.​​ 

I come from a family of idealists.  They liked to fight in wars to defend causes. My 5th Great Grandfather William Beazley and his son John Beazley (my 4th Great Grandfather) were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War. William's grandson, Robert William Beazley went ​to Buenos Aires to join his friend, William Brown, Father of the Argentine Armada. He was married to Marie-Antoinette Negron Oyuela. Their son, born in Buenos Aires, was Francis Beazley (also known as Francisco Beazley Oyuela). His son, born in Buenos Aires, was Francis Julian Beazley (also known as Francisco Julián Beazley).

Francis (or Francisco if you like) Beazley rose to fame in Buenos Aires under Argentine President Julio Argentino Roca.  Francis Julian Beazley was a lawyer and Argentine politician, who enjoyed 30 years of power.  In 1885 he graduated with a doctor of jurisprudence degree at the University of Buenos Aires with a thesis on legal revocation of wills. Working as a professor at the National College (the Argentine equivalent of Harvard), he rose to the office of vice-chancellor, remaining in the office until 1892. On 3 March 1896 Francis Beazley was appointed Chief of Police in the Federal Capital. He also became the governor of the state of Saint Louis. Beazley, Argentina is a town named after him, but it is not where my family lives.  

​​My family still lives in the Buenos Aires area; there is a Beazley street in Buenos Aires named after him in the Patrician Park neighborhood. Beazley Street intersects with Albert Einstein Street; Albert Einstein lived in Buenos Aires in what is now the Australian embassy from March 25 to April 23, 1925 when the building was the home of German businessman, Bruno Waßerman.  Beazley Street also intersects with Romero Street.  
Francis's sister, Marie Antoinette Beazley married Emilio Romero.​​ The Romero family of Buenos Aires are prolific authors and fine artists.  The Beazley family, Romero family and Albert Einstein were highly respected in Buenos Aires.

As a side note, it is interesting that another descendant of William Beazley became governor of the State of South Carolina: ​​David Muldrow Beasley.  I come from a highly-driven family.

Francis ​​was part of the leadership of the Jockey Club of Buenos Aires, and once was its chair. The Beazley Classic (English racing horses, the type the Queen is fond of) is named after him.

The Beazley family prospered in Buenos Aires until María Eva Duarte de Perón slept her way up the chain of dictators and into power. The English-descent Argentines refused to invite her become honorary president of their societies. She retaliated by making the English "disappear."  She became one of the most powerful women of the 20th century.

Buenos Aires remains a very European-style city. An old saying goes "The people of Argentina are more European than the Europeans."  There remains a significant misconception about Buenos Aires and the country of Argentina.  Many people have visited Tijuana Mexico and assume Buenos Aires is similar, however you're not going to likely see someone drinking a Corona, eating a taco, and dancing the Mexican Hat Dance in Buenos Aires.  Instead, we (meaning my Argentine family, and I while in Argentina) are more likely to drink fine wine, eat filet mignon and dance the tango.  

The following photos will give you an idea of what Argentina, Buenos Aires and her people are like.

The Burger King in Buenos Aires
The house where Albert Einstein lived
Máxima Zorreguieta, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau. Born 17 May 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.
Máxima Zorreguieta, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau. Born 17 May 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.
Máxima Zorreguieta, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau. Born 17 May 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.
This picture of the historic Colon Theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina was taken during a show of lights on May 24 2010 as it reopened its doors as part of the celebrations for the Bicentenary of the May Revolution that decided Argentina's independence from the Spanish crown on July 9, 1816.

Listen to "Don't cry for me, Argentina" Spanglish mix by Madonna
Josefina Herrero
Yesica Di Vincenzo Miss Argentina
Natalia Rodriguez. Miss Argentina 2011.
Candela Carrasco. Miss Argentina.
The tomb of Evita - Eva Duarte de Peron.   Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneo Book Store Buenos Aires