Background
José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was born in Santiago, on 6 May 1801.
José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was born in Santiago, on 6 May 1801.
As a young man, he had a diplomatic career in the United States, France and Argentina.
During the administration of President Manuel Bulnes Prieto (1841-1851), Pérez served as minister of finance, of interior, and of foreign relations. During the following administration of President Manuel Montt Torres, he was a member of the Council of State. When a split developed among those supporting President Montt, Pérez, as a supporter of the president, became a member of the National Party.
When the 1861 presidential election approached, the pro-government forces first proposed to run Antonio Varas de la Barra, a chief lieutenant of President Montt. When Varas absolutely refused to run, both government and opposition forces turned to José Joaquín Pérez. He ran without opposition, backed by the National, Liberal, and Conservative parties. His first cabinet contained members of all three parties.
The National Party was not satisfied with its secondary role. Moreover, a group of militant young Liberals was unhappy with the policies of both their party and the Pérez government; they broke away to form the Radical Party, and together with the Nationals, by 1862 they formed the parliamentary opposition to the Pérez regime.
Political controversy was temporarily suspended in 1865-1866 during the short war with Spain during which Spanish warships blockaded most Chilean ports and bombarded Valparaiso.
President Pérez was reelected in 1876 with support of the Liberals and Conservatives.
Two years after leaving the presidency, José Joaquín Pérez was elected to the Senate. From 1873 until 1882 he served as its president.