Son of a Creole family of alcurnia, but without fortune. With the outbreak of the independence revolution, Rodriguez becomes part of the government installed by his neighbor and friend José Miguel Carrera, assuming the position of finance minister until the fall of the independence government for the realistic victories. Rodriguez flees to Mendoza where he offers José de San Martín to act as a spy within Chile and organize resistance to the Reconquest. Rodriguez crosses the mountain range and organizes a group of montoneros led by José Miguel Neira, with whom they achieve various victories against the royalist armies.
