Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna
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| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 1 June 1876 – 1 June 1885 |
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| Constituency | Coquimbo and Santiago |
| President of the Liberal Democratic Party | |
| In office 1876–1886 |
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| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 25, 1831 Santiago, Chile |
| Died | January 25, 1886 (aged 54) Santa Rosa de Colmo, Chile |
| Spouse | Victoria Subercaseaux |
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna (August 25, 1831 – January 25, 1886) was an important Chilean writer, journalist, historian, and politician. He played a big role in shaping Chile's history and culture. Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna had family roots from Ireland and the Basque Country.
Contents
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna's Life
Early Life and Adventures
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna was born in Santiago on August 25, 1831. His father was Pedro Félix Vicuña. His grandfather, General Juan Mackenna, was a hero of the Chilean War of Independence. Benjamín studied law in Santiago starting in 1849.
He began writing for La Tribuna newspaper very early on. He wrote articles about politics. In 1851, he joined a rebellion against the government. He was captured during a fight at the Chacabuco Regiment headquarters. But on July 4, 1851, he and Roberto Souper escaped from prison. They dressed up as women to get out!
In 1852, he had to leave Chile and live in the United States. He traveled from San Francisco through Mexico and Canada. A year later, he went to England to study farming. He then visited many parts of Europe, including Ireland.
Return to Chile and Political Career
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna came back to Chile. In 1856, he finished his law degree at the Universidad de Chile. Even though he was a lawyer, he mostly used his legal knowledge for his writings and political work.
In 1858, he started a newspaper called La Asamblea Constitucional with Isidoro Errázuriz. The government did not like his writings, so he was sent away to England again. He was allowed to return to Chile in 1863. That same year, he started writing for the famous El Mercurio newspaper.
In 1865, he went to New York as a representative for the Chilean government. There, he started another newspaper called La Voz de América. In 1872, he was elected as a national senator. This meant he helped make laws for the country. He also became the mayor of Santiago, the capital city.
His political journey changed in 1875. He ran for president of Chile but lost to Federico Errázuriz Zañartu. After this, he focused more on journalism and writing. In 1880, he worked on El Nuevo Ferrocarril and La Nación newspapers.
Important Writings
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna wrote many important books and articles. His works covered history, novels, and political ideas. Some of his most famous historical books include 'El sitio de Chillán' (1849) and 'Historia de Santiago' (1868). He also wrote 'Historia de Chile' (1868) and 'Historia de Valparaíso' (1868).
He wrote about important figures like 'Vida de Don Diego Portales' (1861/62). Other popular works were 'El Santa Lucía' and 'La unión Americana'. His writings helped people learn about Chile's past and important events.
Legacy and Recognition
Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna was a very smart person. He was part of a group of thinkers in South America. These people helped create the first official history books for their countries. They chose stories and ideas that helped shape national values. These values were meant to be followed by everyone in the country.
Today, places are named after him to honor his memory. For example, there is Vicuña Mackenna Park in northern Chile. Also, Avenida Vicuña Mackenna is a major street in Santiago.
See also
- Vicuña family
- Santa Lucía Hill
- Diego de Rosales
- In Spanish: Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna for kids
