JOSÉ OLAYA

José Olaya

José Olaya Balandra was born in Chorrillos, South of Lima, in 1782. His parents were don Apolinario Olaya and Doña Melchora sloop. From small José Olaya was linked to fishing and life in the sea.

When came the period of the war of independence against Spain, José Olaya sympathized for the cause of freedom. Time to show your supported arrived in 1823, when the royalists recovered Lima and the Patriot Government took refuge in the fortress of el Callao. The fisherman became the link of the Creole Patriots of Lima and Callao, carrying secret messages and letters from either side.

Unfortunately, he was discovered by the Spanish general Ramón Rodil, who ordered capture him and torturing him, in June 1823. Patriot José Olaya not betrayed anybody. The 29th was shot in the street Petateros (Olaya passage today) of the center of Lima. His last words were: "If thousand lives were, willingly would give them for my country".