Francisco de Borja Solar
Francisco de Borja Solar Gorostiaga (September 1807 – December 1891) was a Chilean engineer, academic and politician.
He served as Minister of Finance under President Manuel Montt, as rector of the Instituto Nacional, and as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Senate of Chile. He was also vice president of both chambers of Congress.
Education
Solar was born in Illapel in September 1807. He studied at the Instituto Nacional, where he graduated as an engineer in 1828.
He subsequently pursued an academic career and became a professor at the University of Chile. He was a member of its Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and later served as dean of the faculty.
In 1845, Solar was appointed rector of the Instituto Nacional. During his administration, he introduced changes to the institution's internal organization and educational environment.
Political career
Solar was first elected substitute deputy for Illapel for the 1843–1846 legislative term, although he did not take his seat in the Chamber.
He returned to Congress as an elected deputy for Illapel for the 1849–1852 term. He served on the Permanent Commission on Constitution, Legislation and Justice and the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity. Solar was twice elected vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, first from 3 June to 3 July 1850 and again from 5 August 1850 to 2 June 1851.
Solar was subsequently elected deputy for Talca for the 1855–1858 legislative term, during which he served on the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity.
Under President Manuel Montt, Solar was appointed Minister of Finance on 30 September 1857, succeeding Alejandro Vial Guzmán. His tenure was brief, ending on 14 December 1857, when he was succeeded by Jerónimo Urmeneta.
Solar was also elected substitute deputy for Ovalle for the 1858–1861 term. He later returned as deputy for Cauquenes and Constitución for the 1864–1867 legislative term. During this period, he served on the Permanent Commission on Elections and Qualification of Petitions and the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity, and as a substitute member of the Permanent Commission on Finance and Industry.
In 1867, Solar was elected to the Senate of Chile for the 1867–1876 term. He became vice president of the Senate on 29 November 1869 and remained in the position until 2 June 1875. As senator, he served on the Permanent Commissions on Finance and Industry and on Education and Charity, as well as on the Conservative Commission during several congressional recesses.
Solar participated in the Constituent Congress of 1870, which considered reforms to the Constitution of 1833. He also served as a councillor of state during the presidencies of José Joaquín Pérez and Federico Errázuriz Zañartu.
After leaving the Senate in 1876, Solar retired from parliamentary life. He died in Santiago in December 1891.