Simón Bolívar was known as the "Liberator" of Latin America. A key figure in the movement for independence from Spanish colonial rule in the early 19th century, Bolívar played a crucial role in liberating several countries including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia (which is named after him). He was an influential military and political leader who sought to unify the newly independent Latin American states under the vision of Gran Colombia. His ideals of liberty and democracy continue to resonate in the region's political landscape today.