Nationality Argentine Profession Ecclesiastical | Occupation ChaplainVicar Religion Catholicism | |
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Full Name Tomás Onésimo Canavery Castillo Died 13 September 1913, Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
Tomás Onésimo Canavery (1839–1913) was an Argentine Catholic priest and military chaplain. He participated in the War of the Triple Alliance, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the same battlefield by General Juan Andrés Gelly y Obes.
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Biography
Born in Buenos Aires, at the age of 13 years, Canavery participated in the Battle of Caseros, as Sub-lieutenant. Later he was ordained as priest in the seminary of San Lorenzo. He served as a military chaplain during the Paraguayan War, and for his heroic behavior was promoted to Lieutenant colonel. Canavery was present at the battles of Yatay, Battle of Tuyutí, Battle of Curupayty and Battle of Lomas Valentinas, occurred on December 27, 1868. Finished the war he was added to troops who occupied the city of Asunción. Canavery was awarded the following medals: commemorative for the taking of Uruguaiana; cordon of Tuyutí; shield of Curupayty; star of Guardia Nacional of Buenos Aires Province. And the crosses granted by the Brazilian and Uruguayan government.
In 1880, Tomás Canavery was chaplain of the Policía de la Capital. That same year, Canavery served as parish Priest in the village of Juárez, and in 1881, he was holder in the municipalidad of Ramallo, city where he also served as priest in the parish San Francisco Javier. He was also dedicated to teaching, was preceptor of school in the town of Burzaco, and served as director of primary school in the city of Ramallo. Some time later, Canavery was appointed as first chaplain of the government of Chaco Province.
At the moment a street of the district of Nuñez, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires takes its name in its honor. In the city of Ramallo is located the primary education establishment known as Escuela Nº5 Capellan Cnel. Tomás O. Canavery.
Family
Tomás Onésimo was baptized on September 2, 1839, in the parish San Miguel Arcángel, son of Tomás José Canaverys and Macedonia Castillo, relative in law of Juan Bautista Rondeau. His father Tomás, was baptized with that name for being born on December 29 (St Thomas's Day). He was brother of Ángel Canavery (1850-1916), a military man who participated in the Conquest of the Desert. And of María Juana, married to Enrico Mosconi, an engineer born in Milán, who had been hired by the government for the construction of Central Argentine Railway. Enrico and María Juana were the parents of Enrique Mosconi, a prestigious military and engineer, first director of the oil company YPF.
His grandparents were Mariano Canaverys and Tiburcia Sosa Ravelo, both grandparents had dedicated to teaching, Mariano Canaverys was tutor in Escuela de la Piedad (the primary school in the city), and together with his wife had opened a private school in the city of Olivos, one of the first private institutions in the town. Like all schoolmasters of the time, Mariano was instructed by James Diego Thompson, who had arrived in Buenos Aires to apply modern techniques of education created by Joseph Lancaster.
Some sources suggest as a possible descendant of Irish. His great-grandfather Juan Canaverys, was employed in the Court of Auditors of Buenos Aires during the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Tomás Canavery was the priest who conducted the wedding of Juan Emiliano O'Leary (father of Juan O'Leary) and Dolores Urdapilleta, event celebrated on February 3, 1870 in Villa Hayes.
Through his paternal grandmother (Tiburcia Ravelo Sosa), Tomás Canavery was descended of Antonio Ravelo, born in Caparica (Portugal) and María Sosa, born in San Juan. He was personal friend of Bartolomé Mitre, and Ricardo Gutiérrez, a distinguished medical doctor, who was his comrade during the Paraguayan War.