Carlos Rodríguez Erdoíza
Carlos Rodríguez Erdoíza (1782 – 23 October 1839) was a Chilean lawyer, independence activist and politician.
The brother of independence leader Manuel Rodríguez Erdoíza, he served as Secretary of War in 1814, represented Valdivia and Caupolicán in Congress, and was Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs from 1827 to 1829. In July 1828, he briefly served as Vice President of Chile.
Education
Rodríguez was born in Santiago in 1782, the son of Carlos Rodríguez de Herrera y Zeballos and María Loreto de Erdoíza y Aguirre. His brother was Manuel Rodríguez Erdoíza, one of the best-known figures of the Chilean War of Independence.
He studied at the Royal University of San Felipe and qualified as a lawyer on 4 August 1812. He married Mercedes Larrañaga Álvarez de Toledo.
Political career
Rodríguez initially participated moderately in the Chilean independence movement. As an accountant of the Royal Customs Office, he signed the Provisional Constitutional Regulation of 1812.
In 1814, he became more directly involved in the political struggle surrounding the independence movement and participated in the coup led by José Miguel Carrera against Supreme Director Francisco de la Lastra. During Carrera's government, Rodríguez served as Secretary of War from 23 July to 13 September 1814, succeeding Pedro José de Ugarte and preceding Bernardo de Vera y Pintado.
Following the Patriot defeat at the Battle of Rancagua, Rodríguez crossed the Andes with his brothers and went into exile in Mendoza, where he joined Carrera's supporters.
After the Patriot victory at the Battle of Chacabuco, the government of Bernardo O'Higgins prevented Rodríguez from returning to Chile and sent him into exile in Buenos Aires. While there, he became seriously ill. Before learning of the killing of his brother Manuel, Rodríguez was confined to Martín García Island.
He returned to Buenos Aires in 1820 and maintained close relations with other Chilean exiles, including Camilo Henríquez. He participated in meetings among expatriates and continued practicing law.
Rodríguez returned to Chile in 1823, accompanied by his friend and fellow exile Diego José Benavente.
He was elected deputy for Valdivia and La Unión for the 1824–1825 period and later represented Caupolicán during the 1827–1828 legislative period.
Rodríguez served as Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs between 1827 and 1829. While holding the portfolio, he signed the Constitution of 1828, promulgated on 8 August 1828, in his capacity as minister of state.
From 1 to 22 July 1828, Rodríguez served as Vice President of Chile, succeeding Ramón Freire and preceding Francisco Antonio Pinto.
In 1830, he served as a plenipotentiary representing Chiloé. He had also been elected substitute senator in 1829, but was never called upon to take his seat and therefore did not effectively serve in the Senate.
Following the establishment of the conservative government in 1831, Rodríguez continued to defend his political views and was deported to Peru after being accused of conspiracy.
He later returned to Chile and was appointed a member of the Supreme Court of Chile. His continuing opposition to the government of President José Joaquín Prieto led to the withdrawal of his judicial immunity and salary as a Supreme Court justice.
Rodríguez died on 23 October 1839.