Matías Ovalle
Matías Ovalle Errázuriz (1822 – 3 July 1899) was a Chilean politician and businessman.
He served as Minister of Finance under President Manuel Montt, as Intendant of Santiago, and as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile for Quillota, Valparaíso and Santiago. Outside politics, he was involved in agriculture, mining, public utilities and charitable institutions.
Education
Ovalle was born in Santiago in 1822, the son of Ramón Ovalle Vivar and Mercedes Errázuriz. He was educated at the Instituto Nacional. He married Ruperta Valdés Ortúzar, with whom he had a large family.
Political career
In 1850, Ovalle was appointed Intendant of Santiago. During his administration, he confronted the activities of the Society of Equality and other opposition groups regarded by the government as threats to public order. He later attended the Battle of Cerro Grande as a government delegate.
Ovalle was elected deputy for Quillota for the 1852–1855 legislative term and served on the Permanent Commission on Finance and Industry. He was subsequently elected deputy for Valparaíso for the 1855–1858 term, continuing as a member of the same commission.
He was elected for Santiago for the 1858–1861 legislative term, completing three consecutive terms in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.
Under President Manuel Montt, Ovalle was appointed Minister of Finance by decree on 14 December 1857 and assumed office on 8 January 1858, succeeding Jerónimo Urmeneta. The parliamentary biography records his service until 7 May 1859, while the historical register of the Ministry of Finance lists him as minister until 3 October 1859, when Jovino Novoa Vidal succeeded him.
Outside parliamentary and ministerial office, Ovalle was active in several economic and civic enterprises. He helped establish the National Agricultural Society and supported the agricultural exhibition held in 1869. In 1875, he served as director of the National Exhibition of Santiago.
Together with businessman José Tomás Urmeneta, Ovalle participated in the introduction of gas lighting in Santiago. He also promoted mining ventures in the Cajón del Maipo and the Coquimbo area.
Ovalle was involved for several years with the Sociedad de Beneficencia and served as administrator of the San Juan de Dios Hospital. He died in Santiago on 3 July 1899.