Manuel Camilo Agustín Vial Formas (March 20, 1804 – February 20, 1882) was a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

political figure A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and conservative politician. He served several times as minister.

Early life and family

He was born in

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

, he was the son of Agustín Vial Santelices and of María del Rosario de Formas y Patiño Sánchez de Morales. After completing his studies, he graduated as a lawyer on July 30, 1835. He married Luisa Carrera Fontecilla and together had one son, Agustín. After her death he married Rafaela de la Lastra Valdivieso, with whom he had eight children.

Career in politics

He became the secretary of the "Congreso de Plenipotenciarios" on September 14, 1830; replacing José Miguel Varas Vallejos. As a leader of the Conservative party, he was elected deputy for Casablanca in 1831. He became Secretary of the chamber and member of the permanent committee on government and foreign affairs as well as the one on legislative affairs and justice. He was reelected, this time for San Carlos, on 1834, and again for Cauquenes in 1843. Vial was elected a Senator from 1846 to 1855; and then again from 1864 to his death in 1882. President Manuel Bulnes named him Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs on September 18, 1846; of Finance, on September 2, 1848; of Justice, Cult and Public Education, on 1849. He was also plenipotentiary minister to Peru in 1846. He was also a State Councillor and Supreme Court fiscal. He died in Valparaiso, at the age of 78. 1804 births 1882 deaths Members of the Senate of Chile Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile Chilean Ministers of the Interior Foreign ministers of Chile Chilean Ministers of Finance Chilean Ministers of Justice Ambassadors of Chile to Peru Chilean people of French descent People from Valparaíso Chilean people of Catalan descent {{Chile-politician-stub