Gregorio Donoso

Gregorio Donoso Vergara (1843–1926) was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction under President José Manuel Balmaceda in 1890.

Early life

Donoso was born in Talca in 1843. He studied law at the University of Chile and qualified as a lawyer on 13 January 1868.

He later combined his legal activities with business interests. Contemporary records from the beginning of the 20th century identify him as an industrialist and shareholder in commercial enterprises.

Political career

Donoso was associated with Chilean liberal political circles. During the presidency of José Manuel Balmaceda, he was appointed Minister of Justice and Public Instruction on 7 August 1890. He remained in office until the cabinet change of 15 October 1890, when he was succeeded by Rafael Casanova Casanova.

Despite having served in Balmaceda's cabinet, Donoso subsequently joined the opposition to his government during the political crisis that culminated in the 1891 Chilean Civil War. In Santiago, he became involved with the opposition committee operating against the Balmaceda government.

In May 1891, Donoso was among the opposition representatives who participated in negotiations mediated by the diplomatic representatives of the United States, Brazil and France in an attempt to end the civil war. The group also included Belisario Prats, Melchor Concha y Toro, Pedro Montt, Eduardo Matte, Carlos Walker Martínez and Eulogio Altamirano.

Donoso died in 1926.