Famous Argentine Intellectuals & Academics

Manuel Belgrano was an Argentine lawyer, politician, economist, journalist, and military leader. Widely regarded as one of the most important Libertadores of Argentina, Belgrano played a prominent role in the Argentine Wars of Independence and is credited with creating the Flag of Argentina. Manuel Belgrano is regarded as one of the greatest heroes in the history of Argentina.

Facundo Cabral was an Argentine singer, philosopher, and songwriter. Among his most cherished compositions are I'm not from here nor there and My Poor Boss. Many of his songs have been covered by famous singers like Jorge Cafrune, Joan Manuel Serrat, and Juan Luis Guerra. Facundo Cabral's songs remain popular throughout Latin America.

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento was an Argentine activist, writer, intellectual, and statesman. He is remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 12 October 1868 to 11 October 1874. Sarmiento was part of a group called the Generation of 1837, which had a huge impact on 19th-century Argentina. Domingo Faustino Sarmiento also had a major influence on Argentine literature.

Ernesto Laclau was an Argentine philosopher and political theorist. He is best remembered for his collaborations with Belgian political theorist and long-term partner, Chantal Mouffe. Ernesto Laclau is also remembered for serving as a professor at the University of Essex. 

Argentine-Canadian philosopher, physicist, and educator Mario Bunge is best remembered for his work on social sciences, metaphysics, and the philosophy of the mind. Part of the school of scientific realism, he had published more than 400 papers and was named to Science magazine’s Science Hall of Fame.

British-Argentine author, naturalist, and ornithologist William Henry Hudson not just published a number of ornithological studies but also several novels, such as Green Mansions. He criticized Darwinism and was inspired by Samuel Butler’s writings. He was also part of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Bartolomé Mitre was an Argentine soldier, statesman, and author. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 12 October 1862 to 12 October 1868. A major political figure that best characterized liberalism in 19th century Argentina, Bartolomé Mitre was also a historian, journalist, writer, and poet.

Axel Kicillof is an Argentine economist and politician. He is the current Governor of Buenos Aires. An important politician, Axel Kicillof served as the Minister of Economy and Public Finances from 18 November 2013 to 10 December 2015. Prior to his political career, Kicillof worked as a professor.

Born to German-Jewish immigrants in Argentina, Esther Vilar studied medicine before she moved to Germany to study psychology and sociology. After taking up scores of odd jobs, she soared to international fame with her bestselling book The Manipulated Man, which argues that women aren’t oppressed but control men in relationships.

Raúl Prebisch was an Argentine economist best remembered for his immense contributions to structuralist economics. He is also renowned for his contribution to the development of economic dependency theory. Raúl Prebisch is also remembered for his influential work The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principal Problems, which released in 1950.

Carlos Saavedra Lamas was an Argentine politician and academic. In 1936, he won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Latin American to do so. Apart from the Nobel Peace Prize, Carlos Saavedra Lamas was also honored with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor of France.

Domingo Cavallo is an Argentine politician and economist. He is best known for his service as the Minister of Economy on two occasions; from 1 February 1991 to 6 August 1996 and again from March 2001 to December 2001. An important politician, Domingo Cavallo also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 8 July 1989 to 31 January 1991.

Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, better known as Perito Moreno, is remembered as one of his country’s greatest heroes. His explorations helped define the border of Chile. He discovered Patagonian treasures such as Mount Fitz Roy and established Argentina’s first national park, Nahuel Huapi. His accolades include the Cullum Geographical Medal.

Alfred Métraux was an Argentine and Swiss ethnologist, anthropologist, and human rights leader. He is best remembered for his work with UNESCO's Department of Social Science. Alfred Métraux is also remembered for publishing landmark studies of the Incas, the ancient cultures of Easter Island, and Haitian voodoo. 

Manuel Gálvez was an Argentine poet, novelist, biographer, essayist, and historian. A prolific writer, Gálvez explored a number of genres and styles and produced classics like Historia de arrabal and Nacha Regules. Manuel Gálvez also received a couple of literary prizes for his works, El general Quiroga and Los caminos de la muerte.