Osvaldo Rengifo
Osvaldo Rengifo Vial (10 September 1843 – 1906) was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction, and as rector of the University of Chile.
He also served as intendant of Valparaíso Province from 1892 to 1895.
Early life
Rengifo was born on 10 September 1843 to politician Manuel Rengifo Cárdenas and Rosario Vial Formas. He was a half-brother of politician Manuel Rengifo Vial. He studied at the Instituto Nacional and later law at the University of Chile, qualifying as a lawyer on 4 October 1865.
Rengifo married Ema Rodríguez Cuadra, with whom he had children. He later married her sister, Luisa Rodríguez Cuadra.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Party, Rengifo began his public career as secretary of the Intendancy of Colchagua in 1866 and later served as secretary of the Intendancy of Santiago. He was also an administrator of Santiago's water supply and taught at both the Instituto Nacional and the University of Chile.
Rengifo was elected substitute deputy for San Fernando for the 1870–1873 legislative period. He subsequently entered the Chamber as a full member in place of Alberto Blest Gana, who was serving as Chilean minister in the United States. Rengifo participated in the Constituent Congress of 1870 and was reelected substitute deputy for San Fernando for the 1873–1876 period.
In 1876, he was elected deputy for San Fernando, serving until 1879 and participating in committees dealing with elections, government and foreign relations. He was subsequently returned presumptively for Cauquenes for the 1879–1882 period, but competing electoral returns were presented and Congress did not resolve the dispute.
Outside Congress, Rengifo participated in the commissions responsible for drafting the Chilean Penal Code, Code of Civil Procedure and Organic Law of Courts. From 1892 to 1895, he served as intendant of Valparaíso Province.
President Jorge Montt appointed Rengifo Minister of Justice and Public Instruction on 18 December 1894, succeeding Federico Errázuriz Echaurren. He remained in office until 1 August 1895, when he was succeeded by Mariano Sánchez Fontecilla.
In 1903, Rengifo was appointed rector of the University of Chile, a position he held until his death in 1906.