José Ignacio Vergara
José Ignacio Vergara Urzúa (31 July 1837 – 8 May 1889) was a Chilean engineer, academic and Liberal politician who served as president of the Senate of Chile from 1887 to 1888. He also served as a government minister, member of the Chamber of Deputies and senator for Bío-Bío.
Early life
Vergara was born in Talca on 31 July 1837, the son of José Antolín Vergara Cruz and Gertrudis Urzúa Vergara. He studied at the Liceo de Talca and later at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Chile, where he obtained a degree as a geographical engineer on 30 November 1863.
He taught mathematics at the Escuela Normal de Preceptores and astronomy and differential and integral calculus at the University of Chile. He served as director of the National Astronomical Observatory and was also president of the Sociedad de Instrucción Primaria and a founder of the Escuela Italia. Vergara published several scientific works, particularly in the field of astronomy, and was one of the founders of the Central Meteorological Office. His scientific work received recognition at the 1873 Geographical Congress in Vienna and from the French government.
Vergara also served as rector of the University of Chile and as Intendant of Talca from 1875 to 1881.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Party, Vergara first entered the National Congress in 1867 as deputy for Talca. Originally elected as a substitute deputy, he assumed the seat of Pedro Ugarte Ramírez, who died before the beginning of the legislative term. He served until 1870 and was a member of the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity.
Vergara returned to the Chamber of Deputies as representative for Talca for the 1882–1885 term, during which he served on the Permanent Commission on Finance and Industry. In 1885, he was elected senator for Bío-Bío for the 1885–1891 term.
During his political career, Vergara served as Minister of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction from 8 June 1883 and as acting Minister of War and Navy in 1884 and 1885. He was appointed Minister of the Interior on 22 October 1885.
In the Senate, Vergara served as president from 14 October 1887 to 4 June 1888 and subsequently as vice president. He was a member of the Permanent Commission on Government and Foreign Relations and served as a substitute member of that commission and of the Permanent Commission on Finance and Industry.
Vergara died in Santiago on 8 May 1889, before completing his senatorial term.