José Miguel Valdés
Encyclopedia
José Miguel Valdés Carrera (March 14, 1837 - November 5, 1898) was a Chile
an political figure and liberal politician, who served several times as minister. José Miguel Valdés was of Basque
descent by his mother's side.
He was born in Santiago
, the youngest son of Francisco Javier Valdés Aldunate and of Javiera Carrera Fontecilla. He studied at the Seminary of Santiago and completed his studies at the Instituto Nacional
. Valdés married Emilia La Jara Alliendeallier, and they had 4 children.
He started his political career by joining the Liberal party
and participating in the 1859 Revolution. Most of his life, he dedicated himself to the cultivation of his Hacienda
Baracaldo in Santiago. In 1867 he was elected deputy
for Santiago (1867-1870) and later re-elected for the period 1888-1891. A firm supporter of President
José Manuel Balmaceda
, he was appointed minister of War and Navy
and of Industry and Public Works
in 1889, and of Finance
in 1891. The same year Valdés was elected a Senator
for Concepcion
. At the end of the Chilean Civil War
, he had to seek refuge in the embassy of the United States
, and soon afterward was exiled to France
. He died in Paris
at the age of 61.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an political figure and liberal politician, who served several times as minister. José Miguel Valdés was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent by his mother's side.
He was born in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, the youngest son of Francisco Javier Valdés Aldunate and of Javiera Carrera Fontecilla. He studied at the Seminary of Santiago and completed his studies at the Instituto Nacional
Instituto Nacional
Instituto Nacional , founded on August 10, 1813 by the Chilean patriot José Miguel Carrera , officially Liceo Ex A-0 - Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera, is Chile's oldest and most prestigious school...
. Valdés married Emilia La Jara Alliendeallier, and they had 4 children.
He started his political career by joining the Liberal party
Liberal Party (Chile)
The Liberal Party of Chile was a Chilean political party created by a faction of pipiolos in 1849. After the conservative victory in the Chilean Civil War of 1829 the liberals became the principal opposition party to the Conservative Party...
and participating in the 1859 Revolution. Most of his life, he dedicated himself to the cultivation of his Hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
Baracaldo in Santiago. In 1867 he was elected deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
for Santiago (1867-1870) and later re-elected for the period 1888-1891. A firm supporter of President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández was the 11th President of Chile from September 18, 1886 to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile...
, he was appointed minister of War and Navy
Ministry of National Defense (Chile)
The Ministry of National Defense is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of "maintaining the independence and sovereignty" of Chile. It is also charged with planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing the defense policies formulated by the President of...
and of Industry and Public Works
Ministry of Public Works (Chile)
The Ministry of Public Works is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of "planning, directing, controlling and building the public infrastructure, as well as the conservation and management of them" within Chile. It is also responsible for the "management, distribution, use and...
in 1889, and of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Chile)
The Ministry of Finance of Chile is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of managing the financial affairs, fiscal policy and capital markets of Chile; planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing all financial policies formulated by the President of...
in 1891. The same year Valdés was elected a Senator
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
for Concepcion
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
. At the end of the Chilean Civil War
Chilean Civil War
The Chilean Civil War of 1891 was an armed conflict between forces supporting Congress and forces supporting the sitting President, José Manuel Balmaceda. The war saw a confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Chilean Navy, which had sided with the president and the congress, respectively...
, he had to seek refuge in the embassy of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and soon afterward was exiled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the age of 61.