San Martín came into prominence in the war of the Argentine independence period, when José de San Martín received an extensive land grant in the area to take advantage of agriculture and help the Chilean army of Bernardo O'Higgins in an effort to prevent new Spanish invasions from Chile to Argentina. In 1823, the governor Pedro Molina changed the name of the city yet again in homage to the Argentine general José de San Martín, who, besides his inestimable historical role, contributed many innovations to the local farming sector and in viticulture, particularly.