Gregorio Amunátegui Aldunate
Gregorio Víctor Amunátegui Aldunate (18 March 1830 – 17 January 1899) was a Chilean lawyer, judge, historian and politician who served as president of the Supreme Court from 1892 to 1893.
Biography
Amunátegui was born in Santiago on 18 March 1830, the son of José Domingo Amunátegui Muñoz and Carmen Aldunate Irarrázaval. His elder brother was historian and politician Miguel Luis Amunátegui.
He received his secondary education at the Instituto Nacional and subsequently studied at the University of Chile. In 1856, he was elected a member of the university's Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities following the publication of his Estudio filológico de la lengua latina. He was admitted to the bar on 16 January 1857.
Amunátegui developed an extensive literary and historical career, publishing works both independently and in collaboration with his brother Miguel Luis. The brothers jointly wrote works including La reconquista española: apuntes para la historia de Chile, 1814–1817 and De la instrucción primaria en Chile: lo que es, lo que debería ser.
Amunátegui married Josefina Reyes Pérez Cotapos in Santiago on 6 April 1857. They had three children, including lawyer and academic Miguel Luis Amunátegui.
He died in Santiago on 17 January 1899, aged 68, while still serving as a member of the Supreme Court.
Political career
Amunátegui was elected substitute deputy for Chillán for the 1864–1867 legislative period. He served on the Permanent Commission of Constitution, Legislation and Justice.
He also served as vice president and later president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Judicial career
Amunátegui entered the Chilean judiciary in 1868, when he was appointed a civil judge in Santiago.
From 26 August 1870 to 23 September 1871, he served as an acting justice of the Court of Appeals of Santiago. On 20 October 1875, he was appointed a permanent justice of that court.
In 1889, Amunátegui was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Chile.
He subsequently became president of the Supreme Court, serving from 1892 to 1893 during the government of President Jorge Montt. He was succeeded by José María Barceló.
Amunátegui remained a justice of the Supreme Court until his death in 1899.
Selected works
- La reconquista española: apuntes para la historia de Chile, 1814–1817 (with Miguel Luis Amunátegui)
- De la instrucción primaria en Chile: lo que es, lo que debería ser (with Miguel Luis Amunátegui)
- La isla de Juan Fernández
- Estudio filológico de la lengua latina
- Vida del capitán Fernando Álvarez de Toledo