Manuel Valenzuela

Manuel Valenzuela Castillo (8 June 1822 – 24 September 1889) was a Chilean lawyer, magistrate and public official who served as Intendant of Valparaíso Province and as Commander General of the Chilean Navy in 1858.

Biography

Valenzuela was born in Santiago on 8 June 1822. He studied at the Instituto Nacional and subsequently pursued legal studies, qualifying as a lawyer on 20 September 1843.

He held a number of judicial and administrative positions during his career, including judge of letters and judge of the Commercial Court. He also served as an inspector of schools in Chiloé Province. Valenzuela was later appointed a minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals.

In October 1856, Valenzuela was appointed Intendant of Valparaíso Province, succeeding Julián Riesco. As intendant, he exercised administrative authority over Chile's principal port.

Valenzuela also exercised the office of Commander General of the Navy. Official correspondence dated 9 December 1857 records him signing as Commander General of the Navy in Valparaíso while forwarding a report from the commander of the corvette Esmeralda concerning a voyage to Mejillones.

The Chilean Navy's official list of commanders records Valenzuela as Commander General in 1858, between Domingo Espiñeira and Jovino Novoa Vidal. Contemporary naval records from his administration contain reports concerning the movements and activities of Chilean warships.

After leaving the administration of Valparaíso, Valenzuela continued his judicial career. He served as a minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals until his retirement in 1868. In later years, he served as a councillor of state.

Valenzuela died on 24 September 1889. His son Manuel Francisco Valenzuela, from his marriage to Antonia Valenzuela Sánchez, pursued a legal and political career and represented Curicó in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.