Juan Antonio Ovalle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Antonio Ovalle
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Mural depicting Juan Antonio Ovalle and the First National Congress of Chile during its inaugural session.
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| President of First National Congress of Chile | |
| In office 4 July 1811 – 29 July 1811 |
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| Succeeded by | Martín Calvo Encalada |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile | |
| In office 4 July 1811 – 2 December 1811 |
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| Succeeded by | Dissolution of position |
| Procurator of Santiago | |
| In office c. 1809 – May 1810 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1750 Captaincy General of Chile |
| Died | 12 July 1819 Santiago, Chile |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Juan Antonio Ovalle y Morales (born around 1750 – died July 12, 1819) was an important person in Chilean history. He was a lawyer, a landowner, and a politician. He is best known for being the very first president of Chile's First National Congress. He was chosen to represent the city of Santiago in this important group.
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Who Was Juan Antonio Ovalle?
Juan Antonio Ovalle was born in what was then called the Captaincy General of Chile, which is now Chile. He grew up to become a lawyer, helping people with legal matters. He also owned land, which was common for important families at the time.
Early Public Service
Around 1809, Juan Antonio Ovalle became the Procurator of Santiago. A procurator was like a city attorney or a representative for the people of the city. He held this job until May 1810.
During this time, Chile was still under Spanish rule. The Spanish government, sometimes called the "royalist government," was in charge. Ovalle was taken into custody by this government and sent away to Callao, a port city in Peru. However, he was able to return to Chile shortly after.
Leading the First National Congress
In 1811, a very important event happened in Chile: the First National Congress was formed. This was a big step towards Chile becoming an independent country. Juan Antonio Ovalle was elected as a deputy, or representative, for Santiago.
On July 4, 1811, he was chosen to be the president of this new Congress. This was a huge honor and showed how much people trusted him. He served as president for a short but important period, until July 29, 1811.
Challenges and Exile
Juan Antonio Ovalle's time in Congress ended later in 1811. There was a sudden change in government, sometimes called a coup d'état, led by José Miguel Carrera. As a result, the number of representatives for Santiago was reduced.
After this, Ovalle was sent to live on his farm, called an estancia, in Curacaví. He was not allowed to participate in public life anymore.
Later, in November 1814, he was sent even further away. He was exiled to the Juan Fernández Islands, a group of islands far off the coast of Chile. He stayed there until September 1815, when he was finally allowed to return to the mainland.
Juan Antonio Ovalle passed away on July 12, 1819, in Santiago, Chile. He is remembered as a key figure in Chile's early steps towards independence.
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