Agustín Eyzaguirre

Agustín Manuel de Eyzaguirre y Arechavala (1776 - 1837) was a Chilean political figure. He served as President of Chile between 1826 and 1827.

Background

He was born in Santiago, Chile on May 3, 1776, and began his political career as one of the members of the Junta de Gobierno established in March, 1813, along with José Miguel Infante and José Ignacio Cienfuegos , and which lasted until March 7, 1814, in the period known as the "Patria Vieja" (Old Nation).

During the re-conquest of Chile by the Spanish government, he went into exile, to return at the time of the final independence in 1817. On January 28, 1823, he again became a member of the ruling Junta de Gobierno that together with José Miguel Infante and Fernando Errázuriz , took over from the resigned Supreme Director Bernardo O'Higgins, and lasted until April 4, 1823, when Ramón Freire assumed as the new Supreme Director.

On July 8, 1826 he was elected vice-president, accompanying admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada who was elected President. Both took office on August 14, 1826. Upon the resignation of president Blanco Encalada, he assumed the office of president on September 10, 1826. He was deposed by a military coup on January 25, 1827.

He died in Santiago On July 19, 1837.

Administration

His short government was marked by the financial difficulties that had caused the resignation of his predecessor. He found the treasury broke, with absolutely no sources of revenue. The absolute administrative breakdown of the country prevented the government from collecting any taxes. There was no money to pay administrative personnel, and what was worse for the political situation of the time, the army was unpaid also.

Inmediately upon his assuming office he had to deal with an insurrection in the island of Chiloé that was trying to break away from the control of the central government and return to the protection of Spain. The rebelion was very brutally supressed.

Cabinet

• Interior Minister - Manuel José Gandarillas
• Minister of War - General Luis de la Cruz
• Treasury Secretary - Agustín Vial Santelices