Domingo French Domingo French ( November 21 , 1774 – June 4 , 1825 ) was an Argentine revolutionary who took part in the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence . Biography . During his childhood and early years , French spent his time between studies , commercial activities , and helping his father in his business . In 1802 French became the first mail carrier of Buenos Aires . During the first English invasion , French organized , alongside Juan Martín de Pueyrredón , the corps of Husars . Due to his bravery , he was named lieutenant colonel by the viceroy Santiago de Liniers in 1808 . The Revolution . During the week preceding the May Revolution , he supported the movement with enthusiasm . On May 21 , the " Plaza de la Victoria " ( " Victory Square " , known today as Plaza de Mayo ) was occupied by some 600 armed men , headed by Domingo French and Antonio Luis Beruti , under a group known as the " " chisperos " " , who shouted requests for the forming of an open Cabildo and the deposement of Viceroy Cisneros . Alearmed by the commotion on the square , the viceroy agreed to a meeting for the following day and called Cornelio Saavedra , commander of the Patricios Regiment , to calm the citizenry at the square . Saavedra communicated to the " " chisperos " " that there would be an open cabildo on May 22 and asked them to stand down . To ensure they reached their goal , the group controlled the list of invitees and denied entry to the cabildo to known royalists . French , Beruti and their followers gave each patriot member a light blue and white emblem ( " escarapela " ) to differentiate them from the royalists . When on May 24 , the Cabildo opened deliberations directed by a Junta with Cisneros at its head , French opposed them and , upon the general rejection the Junta dissolved . On the morning of the 25th of May , 1810 , groups of citizens joined at the square with the support of the " " chisperos " " requesting Cisneros stepped down and the formation of a new government . Once a new government was formed , the Primera Junta at the onset of the revolution , French joined the more radical faction , the " morenistas " ( followers of Mariano Moreno ) . French was tasked with the creation of an infantry corps called " América " , and later formed as " the Star " . He then accompanied Juan José Castelli to Córdoba Province and took part in the execution of Santiago de Liniers and his accomplices . War and exile . When the Junta Grande was formed , the " morenista " faction was weakened , as from that moment on , decisions had to take the whole country into account , not just the point of view of the city of Buenos Aires . On 5 and 6 April 1811 , a popular protest demanded total separation from the " morenista " movement and to make laws considering the whole of the country , not only for Buenos Aires and its elite . They saw Cornelio Saavedra ( rival of Mariano Moreno ) as their leader . Saavedra did not favor a revolution and slowly became less involved in government . After these first successes , French , along with other " morenistas " were stripped of their posts and power and exiled to Patagonia . He re4turned in 1812 and rejoined the army . French took part on the siege of Montevideo in 1814 and in the Army of the North in 1815 . Later , he opposed the policies of the Directorio . He denounced the conspiration of Carlos María de Alvear in Brazil and rejected Supreme Director Juan Martín de Pueyrredón . He was persecuted and exiled to the United States of America along with Manuel Dorrego in February 1817 . He returned to Buenos Aires in 1819 and again rejoined the army . He fought in the Battle of Cañada de la Cruz , where he was taken prisoner . After regaining his freedom , he retired in Buenos Aires , where he died on June 4 , 1825 .