Juan Francisco Meneses
Encyclopedia
Juan Francisco Meneses Echanes (June 24, 1785 – December 25, 1860) was a Chile
an priest
and political figure.
, the son of José Ignacio Meneses and of Micaela Echanes. He studied humanities, philosophy and law (both civil and canonic) at the Convictorio de San Carlos, and later graduated from the Universidad de San Felipe on August 29, 1804 as a doctor in "both sciences" (Doctor in Civil and Canonic Law.) In 1808 he married Carmen Bilbao, with whom he had several children. The same year he was named secretary to Royal Governor
Francisco García Carrasco
. After the dismissal of Governor García Carrasco, he was named legal and military aide to the Intendent of Concepción
.
When the Chilean independence movement
swept the country, he joined the Royalist side. In 1812, he was named secretary of the New Appeals Court (Tribunal de Apelaciones), the body that replaced the colonial Appeals Court (Real Audiencia), and later became Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice. Royal Governor
Francisco Marcó del Pont appointed him as his secretary in 1815, but after the Battle of Chacabuco
put an end to the Royal power in Chile, he went into exile to Lima
, Peru
were he privately practiced law and became a secretary to the Viceroy
. While there he became a widower.
on April 21, 1822. He was named rector of Santa Rosa de Los Andes
. He was elected a deputy for Los Andes in 1823 and reelected in 1826 and 1829. In 1827, he was named rector of the Instituto Nacional
and professor of the Universidad de San Felipe. During this period, he became the principal voice of the clergy, discontented with the new republican order, in replacement of the exiled Bishop Santiago Rodríguez Zorrilla. As such, he participated in the conspiracies that led to the Chilean Civil War of 1829.
En 1829 he was named secretary to the victorious Conservative Government Junta
. In 1830, President Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
named him first Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs and later President José Tomás Ovalle
named him Minister of Finance
. He was reelected to congress again in 1830 and elected as a Senator for Aconcagua in 1831. In 1833 he was secretary of the Constitutional Assembly that redacted and promulgated the new constitution. Meneses was again reelected as a Senator in 1834 and successively until 1849. He was also a journalist who wrote in the El Araucano and the La Gaceta del Rey and was in charge of the National Museum.
In March 1830 he became the last rector of the Universidad de San Felipe and after this institution was replaced by the Universidad de Chile in 1843, he became first vice-rector and after 1846 he also was Dean
of the School of Law and Political Sciences, position he retained until 1855. In 1856 he was one of the members of the clergy who sued the Archbishop of Santiago Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
over the expulsion of verger
Pedro Santelices. In October 1859 he was named Dean
and Vicar
of the Cathedral of Santiago. He died in Santiago on Christmas Day of 1860, aged 75.
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 priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and political figure.
Early life
Meneses was born in SantiagoSantiago, 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 son of José Ignacio Meneses and of Micaela Echanes. He studied humanities, philosophy and law (both civil and canonic) at the Convictorio de San Carlos, and later graduated from the Universidad de San Felipe on August 29, 1804 as a doctor in "both sciences" (Doctor in Civil and Canonic Law.) In 1808 he married Carmen Bilbao, with whom he had several children. The same year he was named secretary to Royal Governor
Royal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
Francisco García Carrasco
Francisco Antonio García Carrasco
Francisco Antonio García Carrasco Díaz was a Spanish soldier and Royal Governor of Chile. His political relations with Juan Martinez de Rozas and a smuggling scandal involving the frigate Scorpion destroyed what little authority he had, and required that he surrender his post to Mateo de Toro...
. After the dismissal of Governor García Carrasco, he was named legal and military aide to the Intendent of Concepción
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...
.
When the Chilean independence movement
Chilean Independence
Chilean War of Independence was an armed conflict between pro-Independence criollos who sought political and economic independence from Spain and royalist criollos, who supported the continued allegiance to and permanence within the Spanish Empire of the Kingdom of Chile...
swept the country, he joined the Royalist side. In 1812, he was named secretary of the New Appeals Court (Tribunal de Apelaciones), the body that replaced the colonial Appeals Court (Real Audiencia), and later became Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice. Royal Governor
Royal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
Francisco Marcó del Pont appointed him as his secretary in 1815, but after the Battle of Chacabuco
Battle of Chacabuco
The Battle of Chacabuco, fought during the Chilean War of Independence, occurred on February 12, 1817. The Army of the Andes of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata led by General Captain José de San Martín defeated the Spanish force led by Rafael Maroto...
put an end to the Royal power in Chile, he went into exile to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
were he privately practiced law and became a secretary to the Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
. While there he became a widower.
Political participation
After the death of his wife, he started his theology studies in Cuzco but returned to Santiago in 1821, being finally ordained as a priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on April 21, 1822. He was named rector of Santa Rosa de Los Andes
Los Andes, Chile
Los Andes, founded in July 31, 1791 as Santa Rosa de Los Andes, is a Chilean city and commune located in the province of the same name, in Valparaíso Region...
. He was elected a deputy for Los Andes in 1823 and reelected in 1826 and 1829. In 1827, he was named rector of 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...
and professor of the Universidad de San Felipe. During this period, he became the principal voice of the clergy, discontented with the new republican order, in replacement of the exiled Bishop Santiago Rodríguez Zorrilla. As such, he participated in the conspiracies that led to the Chilean Civil War of 1829.
En 1829 he was named secretary to the victorious Conservative Government Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1829)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the defeat of the Liberal army at the Battle of Ochagavía...
. In 1830, President Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Antonio Pascual de la Ascensión Ruiz de Tagle y Portales was a Chilean political figure. In 1830, he was briefly president of the country. Provisional President of Republic of Chile elected by Congress.-Biography:...
named him first Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs and later President José Tomás Ovalle
José Tomás Ovalle
José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as provisional president of Chile.-Early life:...
named him Minister 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...
. He was reelected to congress again in 1830 and elected as a Senator for Aconcagua in 1831. In 1833 he was secretary of the Constitutional Assembly that redacted and promulgated the new constitution. Meneses was again reelected as a Senator in 1834 and successively until 1849. He was also a journalist who wrote in the El Araucano and the La Gaceta del Rey and was in charge of the National Museum.
In March 1830 he became the last rector of the Universidad de San Felipe and after this institution was replaced by the Universidad de Chile in 1843, he became first vice-rector and after 1846 he also was Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the School of Law and Political Sciences, position he retained until 1855. In 1856 he was one of the members of the clergy who sued the Archbishop of Santiago Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
Rafael Valentín Valdivieso Zañartu was a Chilean priest and lawyer, who worked as Archbishop of Santiago de Chile between 1848 and 1878.-Biography:...
over the expulsion of verger
Verger
A verger is a person, usually a layman, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches.-History:...
Pedro Santelices. In October 1859 he was named Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
and Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of the Cathedral of Santiago. He died in Santiago on Christmas Day of 1860, aged 75.