Camilo Cobo
Camilo Enrique Cobo Gutiérrez (1835 – 26 September 1883) was a Chilean lawyer, journalist and Liberal politician who served as Minister of Finance under President Federico Errázuriz Zañartu. He also represented Chillán in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.
Education
Cobo was born in Santiago in 1835, the son of José Santos Cobo Gutiérrez and Rosario Gutiérrez y Muñoz-Bezanilla. He married his relative Carmela Espínola Cobo in Santiago on 21 May 1866, with whom he had five children.
He studied at the Instituto Nacional and later at the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer on 16 May 1862.
Cobo began his journalistic career in 1857 at El País. In 1865, he joined the staff of El Mercurio of Valparaíso, where he became known for his articles and reports during the war with Spain. He later became editor-in-chief of La República in Santiago and supported the presidential candidacy of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu.
Political career
A moderate member of the Liberal Party, Cobo was elected deputy for Chillán for the 1870–1873 legislative term. He was also elected substitute deputy for Valparaíso but chose to represent Chillán. He served on the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity and participated in the Constituent Congress of 1870, which considered reforms to the Constitution of 1833.
Cobo was reelected deputy for Chillán for the 1873–1876 term and continued to serve on the Permanent Commission on Education and Charity.
Under President Federico Errázuriz Zañartu, Cobo was appointed Minister of Finance on 18 September 1871. He remained in office until 12 April 1872, when he resigned for health reasons, and was succeeded by Ramón Barros Luco.
In June 1871, Cobo became an academic member of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities of the University of Chile. His inaugural address was published in the university's Anales later that year. He was appointed councillor of state on 2 October 1871 and subsequently became rector of the Instituto Nacional, succeeding Diego Barros Arana.
Cobo later served as city attorney for the Municipality of Santiago, remaining in that position until his death. On 14 March 1881, he delivered the city's official address during the triumphal return of General Manuel Baquedano to Santiago. He also taught political economy at the University of Chile until his death.
Cobo died in Santiago on 26 September 1883, aged 48.