Ladislao Cabrera studied and graduated as a lawyer in Arequipa, Peru. He returned to Bolivia and was named prefect of Cobija, but was removed from office during the government of Mariano Melgarejo, after that he was a forensic specialist in the province of Calama. When he found out about the invasion of Chile of Antofagasta during the War of the Pacific he organized the defence of Calama with 135 Bolivians in the Battle of Topáter, resulting in a Bolivian defeat after fierce resistance to Chilean forces. He died in Sucre in December 1921. Ladislao Cabrera Province is named in his honour.