19 Facts About Manuel Montt

Manuel Montt was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861.

Manuel Montt's family was very poor, and in 1822 the death of his father increased their hardship.

Manuel Montt had a distinguished career as a scholar, and was introduced into public life during the presidency of Jose Joaquin Prieto by Diego Portales.

Manuel Montt distinguished himself by his courage in the crisis that followed upon Portales' assassination in 1837, though only holding a subordinate post in the government.

In 1840, Manuel Montt was elected to the National Congress of Chile.

Manuel Montt served as minister of the interior and minister of justice under President Manuel Bulnes.

Manuel Montt emphasized the need for educational and scientific progress in the Chile, and was Minister of public instruction for a time.

Manuel Montt was twice Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs during the Bulnes administration.

In 1851 Manuel Montt won the Chilean presidency, but the liberals regarded his election as fraudulent and instigated an armed revolt, the Revolution of 1851, which was quickly subdued.

Manuel Montt represented the conservative oligarchy and was authoritarian and inflexible in his beliefs, but he worked for the economic and social progress of his nation.

Manuel Montt angered the conservatives when he asserted the state's right of patronage in Chile's Roman Catholic Church and when he supported the abolition of restrictions on the sale or bequeathing of landed estates.

Manuel Montt's administration made advances in commerce and banking, codified Chilean laws, strongly promoted public education and immigration, and colonized the area south of the Bio-Bio River.

Manuel Montt governed Chile with an energy and wisdom that laid the foundation of her material prosperity.

Manuel Montt was ably assisted by his minister of the interior Antonio Varas, and from the co-operation of the two statesmen the well-known ultra-conservative faction, the Montt-Varistas, took their name.

Manuel Montt's presidency featured the establishment of railways, telegraphs, banks, schools and training-colleges.

Manuel Montt again subdued the revolt, but pacified the liberals by shifting his support to Jose Joaquin Perez, who was a moderate.

On giving up the presidency in 1861, Manuel Montt became President of the Supreme Court of Chile, a position which he held up to his death in September 1880.

Manuel Montt died in Santiago de Chile on September 21,1880, he was 71 years old.

Manuel Montt gives his name to the town of Puerto Montt.