Julián Riesco

Julián Riesco Droguett (1816 – 28 July 1879) was a Chilean lawyer, magistrate and public official who served as Commander General of the Chilean Navy from 1854 to 1856. He also served as Intendant of Valparaíso Province and as a minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals.

Biography

Riesco was born in Santiago in 1816, the son of Manuel Riesco de la Vega and Mercedes Droguett y Ballesteros. He studied humanities at the Instituto Nacional and subsequently studied law. He qualified as a lawyer on 12 August 1839 and was appointed judge of letters in San Fernando.

He later pursued a career in the judiciary. On 22 March 1852, Riesco was appointed a minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals.

Riesco served as Commander General of the Navy from 1854 to 1856. During his tenure, he submitted reports to the Ministry of War and Navy concerning the activities and condition of the Chilean naval service.

In August 1855, the Chilean naval vessel Infatigable caught fire and sank in Valparaíso Bay following an explosion in its magazine. Riesco, as Commander General of the Navy, reported the loss and its circumstances to the government in the annual naval report for that year.

Riesco also served as Intendant of Valparaíso. He remained in the position until 25 October 1856, when President Manuel Montt accepted his resignation and appointed Manuel Valenzuela as his successor.

After leaving the administration of Valparaíso, Riesco continued his judicial career. On 20 November 1866, he was appointed a member of the Tribunal Superior de Cuentas and served in that position until 1 April 1869. He retired from his position as a minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals on 23 October 1869.

Riesco died in Santiago on 28 July 1879.