FREIRE, Nicolas, Peruvian soldier, born in Lima in 1810; died there about 1880. His parents, to escape Spanish persecution, had emigrated to Chili, and young Freire received his education in the University of Chili. But early in life he was enrolled in the Chilean army; participating in the campaign of Chiloe in 1825 and in the battle of Lircay in 1830, and after the latter event returned to his country. From 1849 till 1853 he was Peruvian consul general in Chili, in 1854 military commander of the northern provinces of Peru, in 1855 assistant secretary and afterward minister of war, which place he held until 1856, when he was appointed general of division and military commander-in-chief of the southern departments, becoming next year chief of staff of the army of operation of the south. In 1858 he was appointed prefect of the department of Lima, and in 1860 entrusted again with the ministry of war. In 1862 he went as prefect and commander of the navy station to Callao, but returned toward the end of the year to the ministry of war, which he held until 1864, when he was elected senator for the department of Cajamarca. In 1868 he was elected a member of the supreme council of war, prefect of Moquegua, and commanding general of artillery. In 1872 he was appointed inspector General of the army and navy, and next year minister of war and the navy, which office he held until the expiration of President Pardo's term in 1876 when he retired to private life.