Background
Manuel Montt was born on September 4, 1809 in Petorca, Chile of a distinguished family of Catalan descent.
Manuel Montt was born on September 4, 1809 in Petorca, Chile of a distinguished family of Catalan descent.
He was trained for the law.
After entering government service, he played an active part in bringing to justice the assassins of the great Conservative minister Diego Portales, whose spiritual heir he became.
Montt was twice appointed minister of the interior, held a succession of other high posts, and completed two terms (1851 - 1861) as president of Chile. Montt displayed great energy in promoting reforms in almost every branch of national life.
Though a Conservative himself, Montt's reforms brought him into conflict with the Church, which believed its privileges to be threatened, and with the large landowners angered by his abolition of the colonial system of estates, which Montt believed would encourage a more equitable pattern of landownership. The Liberals had launched an armed rising in an unsuccessful protest against Montt's advent to power in 1851, and toward the end of his second term they renewed their agitation, this time in an unnatural alliance with the extreme Conservatives and with the unruly Araucanians in the south of the country. This created economic and political difficulties for Montt's administration, which was succeeded by a Liberal government in 1861.
On leaving presidential office, Montt served on the Supreme Court (where an attempt was made to impeach him) and then as senator, counselor of state, and Chilean envoy to Peru.
He was a convinced Conservative.
His severe and inflexible character made him many enemies, but in Chilean history he has seldom been equaled for his probity and many-sided devotion in the public service.
Montt was married to Rosario Montt Goyenechea.