José Santiago Muñoz
Encyclopedia
José Santiago Muñoz Bezanilla (c.1780 - 1836), was a Chile
an soldier and politician.
Muñoz Bezanilla was born in Santiago
, and took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning. In 1811, he was one of the officers in charge of putting down the Figueroa mutiny
, as aide-de-camp
of the Grenadiers regiment. He participated in all the campaigns of the Patria Vieja (1811-1814), and after the defeat of Rancagua, he was left stranded between the Royalist armies. Captured by the Spanish authorities, he was exiled to the Juan Fernández Islands
, where he remained imprisoned until after the victory of Maipu
.
José Santiago Muñoz was an ardent Liberal, and propagandist. He defended the liberal credo as a journalist for the El Pipiolo, El Tizón Republicano, El Monitor Araucano and El Canalla newspapers.
In 1824, Muñoz was elected a deputy for "San Carlos" (1824-1825), and in 1826 was reelected, this time for "Santiago" (1826-1827), being vice president of the chamber from January 8 to February 5, 1827. In 1828, he participated of the Constitutional Convention as a deputy for "Santa Bárbara de Casablanca" (1828-1829). During that period, President Francisco Ramón Vicuña
appointed him as Secretary of War and Navy
.
Muñoz fought in the Chilean Civil War of 1829, and after the final defeat of the Liberals at the Battle of Lircay, he was exiled to the town of Huasco
in 1833, where he died at the age of 56.
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 soldier and politician.
Muñoz Bezanilla 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...
, and took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning. In 1811, he was one of the officers in charge of putting down the Figueroa mutiny
Figueroa mutiny
Figueroa mutiny was a failed attempt to restore royal power and is the first coup d'état to ever take place in Chile.- Background :...
, as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of the Grenadiers regiment. He participated in all the campaigns of the Patria Vieja (1811-1814), and after the defeat of Rancagua, he was left stranded between the Royalist armies. Captured by the Spanish authorities, he was exiled to the Juan Fernández Islands
Juan Fernández Islands
The Juan Fernández Islands are a sparsely inhabited island group reliant on tourism and fishing in the South Pacific Ocean, situated about off the coast of Chile, and is composed of three main volcanic islands; Robinson Crusoe Island, Alejandro Selkirk Island and Santa Clara Island, the first...
, where he remained imprisoned until after the victory of Maipu
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile on April 5, 1818 between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence...
.
José Santiago Muñoz was an ardent Liberal, and propagandist. He defended the liberal credo as a journalist for the El Pipiolo, El Tizón Republicano, El Monitor Araucano and El Canalla newspapers.
In 1824, Muñoz was elected a deputy for "San Carlos" (1824-1825), and in 1826 was reelected, this time for "Santiago" (1826-1827), being vice president of the chamber from January 8 to February 5, 1827. In 1828, he participated of the Constitutional Convention as a deputy for "Santa Bárbara de Casablanca" (1828-1829). During that period, President Francisco Ramón Vicuña
Francisco Ramón Vicuña
Francisco Ramón de Vicuña Larraín was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as acting President of Chile in 1829. Francisco Vicuña was of Basque descent.-Early life:...
appointed him as Secretary 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...
.
Muñoz fought in the Chilean Civil War of 1829, and after the final defeat of the Liberals at the Battle of Lircay, he was exiled to the town of Huasco
Huasco, Chile
Huasco is a Chilean city and commune, in the Huasco Province, Atacama Region.The port city of Huasco is located 50 km west of Vallenar and close to the town of Huasco Bajo, which lies on the southern bank of the Huasco River and only a few km from its mouth...
in 1833, where he died at the age of 56.