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María Josepha Petrona de Todos los Santos Sánchez de Velazco y Trillo de Thompson y Mendeville, better known as Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson was born on November 1, 1786 in Buenos Aires. She was born to Cecilio Sánchez de Velasco and Magdalena Trillo. Before the age of 15 she fell in love with her cousin Martín Jacobo Thompson and against the wishes of her parents they became engaged. After her father’s death, Mariquita’s mother arranged for her to be married to Diego del Arco. Stubbornly, Mariquita went to Viceroy Sobremonte to be allowed to marry her cousin. A year after the beginning of the trial, Mariquita and Thompson were given permission to marry and were married on July 29, 1805.

After her marriage, Mariquita’s life was linked to public happenings. She embraced the cause of liberty and collaborated with patriotic parties of the Revolución de Mayo. Her house, located on the street Unquera (now 200 Florida), was known as “de Empedrado” meaning cobbled or “del Correo” meaning the post/mail which welcomed the people of her time, attracted to the gracious and spiritual hospitality of the host. Delicate problems and literary themes were discussed in her tertulia or salon.

Thompson and Mariquita had five children: Clementina in 1807, Juan in 1809, Magdalena in 1811, Florencia in 1812 and Albina in 1817. Also in 1817, Thompson, sent to the United States, went crazy and died on the return trip.

In 1820, the widowed Mariquita married Washington de Mendeville. He was a French expatriate whose conduct led to many troubles concealed by his diplomatic functions outside of the country that ended with their separation. Many years later Mariquita revealed the misery of her life with Mendeville in a letter to Juan Bautista Alberdi. Mendeville and  Mariquita had three children: Julio, Carlos and Enrique.

When minister Bernardino Rivadavia founded the Sociedad de Beneficencia, he needed the help of Mariquita who was an advocate and enthusiast. As one of the founders, she was the first secretary in 1823 and then president from 1830-1832. Schools and colleges for women were entrusted to the organization throughout the province of Buenos Aires. They also administered in hospitals and orphanages.

Mariquita died on October 23, 1868 in Buenos Aires almost at the age of 82 years-old.