Carrera family facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carrera family Familia Carrera
Family
Arms of the Carrera family
Country	Chile
Place of origin	Basque Country
Founded	1620 (1620)
Founder	Juan Ignacio de la Carrera Yturgoyen

The Carrera family was a very important family in Chile. They became powerful during the time when Chile was a colony of Spain. They played a huge role in helping Chile become independent from Spain. Even after independence, they stayed important in politics throughout the 1800s. Many of their family members today are still well-known in Chile.

Key Members of the Carrera Family

The Carrera family has many famous members. Here are some of the most important ones:

Early Influencers

• María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera (1733–1810) was the first First Lady of Chile. This means she was the wife of the country's leader.
• Ignacio de la Carrera (1747–1819) was a key figure. He was part of Chile's first ruling group in 1810. This group helped govern the country as it moved towards independence.

The Carrera Siblings: Heroes of Independence

The children of Ignacio de la Carrera are very famous in Chilean history. They are known as the Hermanos Carrera, which means the Carrera siblings. All of them, except Javiera, were military leaders. They fought bravely against Spanish rule to make Chile free.

• Javiera Carrera (1771–1862) is often called the "Mother" of Chile. She is famous for sewing Chile's very first flag.
• Brigadier Juan José Carrera (1782–1818) was a hero of the independence movement. He was a high-ranking military officer.
• General José Miguel Carrera (1785–1821) was a main leader in the fight for independence. He even governed Chile during its first period of freedom, known as the Patria Vieja (Old Homeland).
• Colonel Luis Carrera (1791–1818) was another brave hero of independence. He was also a military officer.

Later Generations of Influence

Many other people from the Carrera family also became famous later on:

• José Miguel Carrera Fontecilla (1821–1860) led a big conflict in Chile in 1851.
• José Miguel Valdés Carrera (1837–1898) was a politician. He served as a government minister many times.
• Luis Aldunate Carrera (1842–1908) was also a politician. He held several important government minister roles.
• Ignacio Carrera Pinto (1848–1882) was a soldier. He is remembered as a hero from the Battle of La Concepcion. This battle happened during the War of the Pacific.
• Federico Santa María Carrera (1845–1925) was a successful businessman. He was also a philanthropist, meaning he gave a lot of money to good causes.
• María Elena Carrera Villavicencio (1929) is a modern politician.

Even though the Carrera family name might not be as common now due to marriages, their many descendants are still very important in Chilean society, politics, and business.

See also

In Spanish: Familia Carrera para niños

• History of Chile
• Manuel Rodríguez