Gregorio Argomedo
José Gregorio Argomedo Montero (4 September 1767 – 5 October 1830) was a Chilean lawyer, judge and politician who served as the first president of the Supreme Court from 1823 to 1825.
Early life
Argomedo was born in San Fernando on 4 September 1767, the son of Tomás de Argomedo y Reyes and Isabel Montero Valenzuela. He studied at the Real Colegio de San Carlos and later studied law and canon law at the Royal University of San Felipe, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in 1793.
He subsequently became a lawyer and later served as rector of the Royal University of San Felipe.
Political career
Argomedo participated in the Chilean independence movement. In 1810, while serving as procurator of the Cabildo of Santiago, he participated in the open cabildo of 18 September 1810 that resulted in the establishment of the First Government Junta. He subsequently served as secretary under several of the early governing bodies of Chile.
Following the Battle of Rancagua in 1814, Argomedo went into exile in Mendoza. He returned to Chile after the patriot victory at the Battle of Chacabuco in 1817 and subsequently held several public offices.
In 1823, Argomedo was elected deputy for Colchagua to the General Constituent Congress and served as vice president of the Congress from 12 August to 13 October. He was reelected for Colchagua in 1824 and served as president of Congress from 22 November to 22 December 1824.
Judicial career
Following his return to Chile, Argomedo served in the judiciary, including as prosecutor and justice of the Chamber of Appeals.
In 1823, following the establishment of the Supreme Court of Chile, Argomedo became one of its first justices and its first president.
He served as president from 1823 to 1825, when he left the court. Argomedo returned as a justice of the Supreme Court in 1828 and remained a member until his death in 1830.
He was succeeded as president of the Supreme Court by Juan de Dios Vial del Río.
Later life and death
In 1825, Argomedo was accused of conspiring against the government and went into exile in Peru. He returned to Chile the following year and continued his public career.
He later served as intendant of the Province of Colchagua. Argomedo died in Santiago on 5 October 1830, aged 63.