Joaquín Villarino
José Joaquín Villarino Cabezón (1832 – 29 July 1911) was a Chilean engineer, educator and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and as Minister of Industry and Public Works under President Germán Riesco.
A member of the Liberal Party, he served as a substitute deputy for Lautaro from 1861 to 1864 and later as intendant of Coquimbo and Valparaíso.
Early life
Villarino was born in Santiago in 1832 to Francisco Villarino Dupuy and María Josefa Cabezón Martínez-Outes, both educators who had settled in Chile. He studied at the Colegio Inglés de Valparaíso between 1840 and 1845, as well as at the schools of José María Núñez and Manuel Zapata, before attending the Instituto Nacional. He later studied at the University of Chile, graduating as a mining engineer and general surveyor in 1854.
Villarino taught physics and mathematics at several private schools and at the Liceo de Concepción in 1855. In 1859, he was appointed rector of the Liceo de La Serena and professor of history and literature there, although he did not take up these positions. In 1862, he became the founding rector of the Liceo de Valparaíso, now the Liceo Eduardo de la Barra, remaining in the position until 1868.
He also worked as an editor for the newspapers El Correo del Sur in Concepción and El Comercio in Valparaíso. His publications included Álgebra elemental (1865), Balmaceda el último de los presidentes constitucionales de Chile (1892), Destitución del rector del Liceo de Valparaíso y su vinculación (1868), El candidato del país y del presidente de la República (1875), and El sacrificio de un gran partido (1894).
Political career
In 1861, Villarino served as a section chief in the Ministry of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction. He was elected substitute deputy for Lautaro for the 1861–1864 legislative term and took his seat on 22 June 1861.
Villarino was appointed intendant of Coquimbo on 8 April 1890. On 27 December of that year, he was transferred to Valparaíso as intendant and remained there until he was replaced in January 1891.
During the Chilean Civil War of 1891, Villarino was exiled to Mendoza, Argentina.
During the presidency of Germán Riesco, Villarino was appointed Minister of Industry and Public Works on 6 May 1902. He remained in office until 20 November 1902.
Villarino died in Santiago on 29 July 1911.