Mariano Sánchez Fontecilla
Mariano Elías Sánchez Fontecilla (12 February 1840 – 5 January 1914) was a Chilean lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, as a senator for Concepción, and as a minister of state.
During his political career, Sánchez Fontecilla held several cabinet positions under presidents Federico Errázuriz Zañartu, José Manuel Balmaceda, Jorge Montt and Federico Errázuriz Echaurren. He also represented Chile diplomatically in Colombia, the United States and Spain.
Early life
Sánchez Fontecilla was born in Santiago on 12 February 1840 to Mariano Elías Sánchez Bravo de Naveda and Josefa Fontecilla y Fontecilla. His brother, Evaristo Sánchez Fontecilla, also pursued a political career.
He attended the Instituto Nacional before studying law at the University of Chile. He qualified as a lawyer on 21 December 1860, at the age of 20.
Sánchez Fontecilla married María del Tránsito García de la Huerta Pérez, with whom he had two children, including Renato Sánchez García de la Huerta. In addition to his legal and political activities, he was involved in agriculture.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Party, Sánchez Fontecilla began his public career in provincial administration. He served as secretary of the intendancy of Aconcagua in 1862 and of Atacama in 1863. He became acting intendant of Atacama in 1864 and intendant of Llanquihue in 1865. He later served as intendant of Concepción from 1881 to 1882.
In 1867, Sánchez Fontecilla was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Petorca for the 1867–1870 term, serving on the permanent committee for constitution, legislation and justice. He subsequently represented Llanquihue and Osorno from 1870 to 1873 and participated in the Constituent Congress of 1870, which considered reforms to the Constitution of 1833. During this period, he was associated with the parliamentary group of the newly established Progressive Party.
He returned to the Chamber of Deputies as representative for Llanquihue for the 1876–1879 term, although he did not take his seat until 14 May 1878. During that term, he served as a substitute member of the permanent committee for constitution, legislation and justice and was a member of the Conservative Commission during the 1878–1879 recess. He was reelected for Llanquihue for the 1879–1882 term.
Sánchez Fontecilla was elected to the Senate for Concepción for the 1885–1891 term. He served as vice president of the Senate from 3 June to 23 November 1885 and participated in the permanent committees for government and foreign relations and for constitution, legislation and justice. He was also a member of the Conservative Commission during the 1889–1890 and 1890–1891 recesses.
Ministerial and diplomatic career
Sánchez Fontecilla combined his parliamentary career with diplomatic and cabinet appointments. In June 1867, he was accredited as Chilean chargé d'affaires in Colombia. Later that year, he was appointed chargé d'affaires in the United States, based in Washington, D.C., serving from 30 December 1867 until 9 April 1870.
President Federico Errázuriz Zañartu appointed him Minister of War and Navy on 19 April 1875, a position he held until 11 September of that year.
Under President José Manuel Balmaceda, Sánchez Fontecilla served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Worship and Colonization from 1 May to 11 June 1889. Later that year, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, serving from 7 November 1889 until 21 January 1890.
During the presidency of Jorge Montt, he returned to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, serving from 26 April to 7 December 1894. He subsequently served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction from 1 August to 24 November 1895.
Although he had largely withdrawn from political life by 1900, President Federico Errázuriz Echaurren called on Sánchez Fontecilla to organize a cabinet. He served as Minister of the Interior from 3 November until the ministry resigned on 27 December 1900. In 1901, he was appointed Chilean minister plenipotentiary to Spain.
Sánchez Fontecilla died in Santiago on 5 January 1914, aged 73.