José Manuel Borgoño
José Manuel Borgoño Núñez (1789 – 29 March 1848) was a Chilean Army general, diplomat and politician who participated in the Chilean War of Independence and the Peruvian War of Independence.
He served twice as Minister of War and Navy, represented Chile in negotiations leading to Spain's recognition of Chilean independence, and was a member of several early Chilean congresses.
Education
Borgoño was born in Petorca in 1789, the son of Francisco Borgoño and Carmen Núñez. At the age of twelve, he entered the line infantry battalion of Concepción as a cadet. He remained there until 1804, when he obtained leave to move to Santiago to study mathematics and received an appointment as an artillery cadet.
After completing his studies, Borgoño returned to southern Chile, where he worked on the repair of fortifications, the installation of artillery pieces and other military engineering projects. He married Mercedes Vergara, with whom he had three children.
Political career
Borgoño's public career was closely connected to his military service. In 1812, he participated as an engineer in military operations on the southern frontier. He was promoted to lieutenant of cavalry in 1813 and was appointed commander of the artillery at Valparaíso. During the following year's campaign, he commanded artillery at the Battle of Rancagua on 1 October 1814. After the Patriot defeat, he took refuge in Talca and remained in hiding during the Spanish Reconquest.
After the restoration of Patriot rule, Borgoño participated in the Talcahuano campaign and fought at the Battle of Cancha Rayada on 19 March 1818 and the Battle of Maipú on 5 April. Between 1818 and 1820, he organized the artillery assigned to the Liberating Expedition of Peru, in which he participated in 1821. He subsequently took part in the campaigns of Torata and Moquegua in 1823.
Borgoño was elected to the General Constituent Congress of 1823 as a representative for Santiago and served on its Permanent Military Commission. He participated in the preparation of the Constitution of 1823.
For the General Congress of the Nation of 1824–1825, he was elected for both Talca and Chillán and chose to represent Talca. He served on the Permanent Commission on War and Navy. He was subsequently elected substitute deputy for Chiloé to the Constituent Congress of 1826 but did not take his seat.
Borgoño was promoted to brigadier general in 1825. He participated in operations against the Pincheira brothers in 1826 and also took part in the Conquest of Chiloé.
Between 1827 and 1829, under President Francisco Antonio Pinto, Borgoño served as Minister of War and Navy. During this period, he also participated in the preparation of the Constitution of 1828. He subsequently remained separated from active military service for several years.
Borgoño was later appointed Chilean minister plenipotentiary to Spain to negotiate formal recognition of Chilean independence. He travelled to Europe in 1840, and the resulting treaty recognizing Chile as an independent state was signed on 24 April 1844 and promulgated in Chile on 1 July 1846. While in Madrid, Borgoño declined the Spanish Order of Charles III.
After returning to Chile, he was appointed inspector general of the Army in 1845. He again became Minister of War and Navy on 18 September 1846 under President Manuel Bulnes, succeeding José Santiago Aldunate.
In the same period, Borgoño returned to Congress as deputy for Talca for the 1846–1849 legislative term. He formally took his seat on 22 June 1846 and served on the Permanent Commissions on War and on War and Navy.
Borgoño died on 29 March 1848 while serving as both Minister of War and Navy and deputy for Talca. He was succeeded at the ministry by Pedro Vidal Gómez.