Clément Cabanettes
Clemente Cabanettes (original French name: Clément Cabanettes) (Ambec, Aveyron, France, August 14, 1851 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 14, 1910) was a French businessman and military officer who became a naturalized Argentine citizen. He is known for founding the city of Pigüé in the Buenos Aires province, together with Francisco Issaly.[1][2]
Early life
Clemente Cabanettes was born in Ambec, France, on August 14, 1851. On December 28, 1872, at the age of 21, he joined the French Army in the 85th Infantry Regiment as a private. He was later promoted to sergeant major. After this promotion, he joined a regional shooting school at the Chalons Camp in 1875. Two years later, he joined the military reserves with the rank of second lieutenant.
Arrival in Argentina
Cabanettes arrived in Buenos Aires in 1879. He intended to establish a military academy in the city, but ultimately did not pursue the project. Two years later, in 1881, he introduced the pantéléfono, the first telephone communication service in South America.
Founding of Pigüé
In 1883, Cabanettes purchased ten leagues of land from Eduardo Casey with the goal of establishing an agricultural colony in an area called "Pihüe." In early December 1884, he welcomed forty families from Aveyron, France, who founded what is now the city of Pigüé.
Later years and death
Cabanettes was appointed consular agent in the colony on November 1, 1891. He later moved to Buenos Aires, where he passed away on July 14, 1910. His remains rest in the cemetery of Pigüé.