RICAURTE, Antonio (re-kah-oor'-tay), Colombian soldier, born in Bogota in 1792; died in San Mated, Venezuela, 25 March, 1814. At the first patriotic movement he entered the ranks of the Independents, and served as captain in re-enforcements that were sent by the state of Cundinamarca to Bolivar. With the latter he marched to Venezuela, taking part in numerous battles. He formed part of Bolivar's forces that awaited Boves's army at San Mateo between Victoria and the Lake of Valencia, and assisted in the defence of that place from 25 February to 25 March. In the latter day the patriots resisted the attacks of Boves, when by a furious charge they were dislodged for a moment, leaving their reserve ammunition in a sugar-mill on an eminence temporarily unprotected. Half of Boves's forces swept down on that point, when Ricaurte, who commanded the mill with a small detachment, dismissed his men, and, when the building was surrounded by thousands of the enemy, blew it up and perished in the explosion. The Spaniards in their confusion were routed by Bolivar. A monument has been erected to Ricaurte in his native city for his heroic deed.