Isabelino Canaveris belonged to a family of military traditions, separated by political disputes between Federales Loyalists to Rosas, Federales supporters of Balcarce, and Unitarians exiled in Montevideo. His father was a former federal military who participated in the Siege of Montevideo, under the command of General Antonio F. Díaz and Colonel Joaquín Ramiro. His father made his military career in the Batallón de Voluntarios Rebajados of Buenos Aires, a military unit at the service of Rosas, formed with veterans of the War of Brazil and the Campaigns to the Desert of 1830s.