Supreme Director of Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supreme Director of Chile |
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Seal of the "Supreme Director of the Chilean State"
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| Style | His Excellency |
| Precursor | President of the National Government Junta of Chile |
| Formation | 7 March 1814 |
| First holder | Antonio José de Irisarri |
| Final holder | Ramón Freire |
| Abolished | 9 July 1826 |
| Succession | President of Chile |
The Supreme Director of Chile was the main leader of Chile during two different times: first in 1814, and then from 1817 to 1826. This person was both the Head of State and the Head of Government.
The first person to hold this title was Francisco de la Lastra. However, before him, Antonio José de Irisarri served as a temporary Supreme Director for seven days. The last person to be called Supreme Director was Ramón Freire.
Contents
History of the Supreme Director Position
The First Supreme Director (1814)
In 1814, Chile was fighting for its independence from Spain. People loyal to the King of Spain, called Royalists, were gaining ground. To fight them better, the ruling group known as the National Government Junta was ended.
The leaders decided to create a new position. This new leader, called the Supreme Director, would have all the power that the Junta and its President used to have. This was meant to help coordinate the independence fighters more easily. An advisory group called the Consultative Senate was also set up.
On March 7, Francisco de la Lastra was named the first Supreme Director. But he was in Valparaíso at the time, not in Santiago. So, Antonio José de Irisarri from Guatemala became the temporary Supreme Director for seven days. De la Lastra finally arrived in Santiago on March 14 and took over.
The rules for this temporary government, called the Regulation of the Provisional Government of 1814, explained the new role. It said that because of the difficult times, one person should hold all the power to run the country. This person was the Supreme Director.
The rules also said that the Supreme Director had wide and unlimited powers. However, they had to talk with the Senate and agree on big decisions. These included peace treaties, declaring war, setting up trade, and creating taxes. The Supreme Director was supposed to serve for 18 months. This term could be extended if the local government (Municipality) and the Senate agreed.
But this first period as Supreme Director did not last long. On July 23, 1814, General José Miguel Carrera, who had been a President of the Government Junta, led a sudden takeover. He worked with a Catholic priest named Julián Uribe. They removed de la Lastra from power. The system with a Supreme Director was ended for a while. A new Government Junta was put in place, with Carrera as its President.
The Supreme Director in the New Fatherland (1817-1823)
Chile's fight for independence continued. In 1817, the Royalists were defeated at the Battle of Chacabuco. After this important victory, Bernardo O'Higgins was declared the Supreme Director. At first, he was the leader de facto, meaning he was in charge even without a formal law.
Later, a new temporary constitution was created in 1818. This constitution officially confirmed O'Higgins as the Supreme Director. It stated that the Supreme Director would hold all the power to run the country. It also explained that future Supreme Directors would be chosen by the people of the provinces.
The Supreme Director During the Republic's Organization (1823-1826)
By early 1823, General Ramón Freire was the leader of the army in the south. He marched his troops towards Santiago. On January 28, O'Higgins stepped down as Supreme Director. A temporary ruling group, called the Provisional Government Junta, was formed. Agustín de Eyzaguirre Arechavala led this group. He had been a President of the Government Junta before, in 1813.
However, Freire and his troops were in Valparaíso, close to Santiago. They refused to accept the new government. They marched towards the capital city. Eventually, Freire was named Supreme Director on August 18. He held this position until July 9, 1826. After him, Manuel Blanco Encalada became the first President of the Republic.
During Freire's time as Supreme Director, a new Constitution was put into effect in 1823. This Constitution said that a citizen with the title of Supreme Director would manage the country according to its laws. This person would have all the power to run the government. The Supreme Director would serve for four years. They could be re-elected for a second term if two-thirds of the votes supported it.
List of Supreme Directors
- Political parties
Independent
Pelucones
Pipiolos
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born-Died) |
Term | Political Party | Election | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
| 1 | Antonio José de Irisarri (1786–1868) |
7 March 1814 | 14 March 1814 | 7 days | Independent | – | ||
| 2 | Francisco de la Lastra (1777–1852) |
14 March 1814 | 23 July 1814 | 131 days | Independent | – | – | |
| Spanish Reconquest (1814–1817) |
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| 4 | Francisco Ruiz-Tagle (1790–1860) |
12 February 1817 | 16 February 1817 | 4 days | Pelucones | – | – | |
| 5 | Bernardo O'Higgins (1778–1842) |
16 February 1817 | 28 January 1823 | 5 years, 346 days | Independent | – | ||
| 6 | Agustín Eyzaguirre (1768–1837) |
28 January 1823 | 4 April 1823 | 66 days | Independent | 1822 | ||
| 7 | Ramón Freire (1787–1851) |
4 April 1823 | 9 July 1826 | 3 years, 96 days | Pipiolos | 1823 | ||
See also
In Spanish: Director supremo de Chile para niños
