Jose Manuel Balmaceda

Background

Balmaceda was born on July 19, 1840 in Bucalemu, Chile, the eldest of the 12 children of Manuel José Balmaceda Ballesteros and Encarnación Fernández Salas.

Education

He was educated in the Seminario Conciliar of Santiago and began his public life in 1864 as secretary to Manuel Montt, Chilean statesman, and president of Chile from 1851 to 1861.

Career

After 1881 he served as foreign minister of the interior under President Santa María. Liberal laws such as civil marriage were sponsored by Balmaceda. In 1886 he became the presidential candidate of the Liberal, Radical, and National parties and won the election. The income from the nitrate fields, newly acquired from Bolivia and Peru, was so great that Balmaceda was able to spend great amounts in public works. Education, financial reforms, and labor problems occupied much of his attention, and his name is connected with many schools, hospitals, and prisons still in use today. He introduced new ideals into politics and endeavored to unite all liberals into one party. He worked to ensure independence of the judicial from the municipal authorities and to educate the army along democratic lines. Soon the parliament began to rebel against him. It forced the president to accept ministers he did not want. Finally he refused to obey and began to rule without Congress. The cleavage between the executive and legislative powers grew, and military conflict broke out in 1891, followed by eight months of fighting. The Chilean navy revolted in favor of the congressional party, and Balmaceda realized his defeat. A governing junta was appointed. Balmaceda took refuge in the Argentine embassy, where he committed suicide on September 18, 1891.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Testamento político del ex-presidente de Chile, señor don J. Manuel Balmaceda (Spanish Edition)

Connections

On 11 October 1865, Balmaceda married Emilia de Toro Herrera, granddaughter of Mateo de Toro Zambrano, 1st Count of La Conquista, and together they had eight children, six of whom survived to adulthood.

Father:

Manuel José Balmaceda Ballesteros

Mother:

Encarnación Fernández Salas

Wife:

Emilia de Toro Herrera

Daughter:

María Emilia del Cármen Balmaceda

Daughter:

María Elisa Balmaceda

Daughter:

María Catalina Balmaceda

Daughter:

Julia Balmaceda

Son:

Enrique Víctor Aquiles Balmaceda

Son:

Pedro Alberto José Balmaceda

Son:

Domingo Nicolás Balmaceda

Son:

José Manuel Balmaceda

References

• Balmaceda, su gobierno y la revolucio?n de 1891. (Spanish Edition)
• La última decisión de Balmaceda: dar la vida por los amigos (Spanish Edition)