Manuel Villamil
Manuel Villamil Blanco (died 5 November 1909) was a Chilean politician and diplomat who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, as Chilean minister plenipotentiary to Brazil, and as Minister of War and Navy.
Early life
Villamil was the son of Juan Santos Villamil Rada and Mercedes Blanco Gana and a grandson of Chilean president Manuel Blanco Encalada. He studied at the Colegio San Ignacio between 1856 and 1857 and later married Teresa Orrego Carvallo.
Political career
Villamil was initially associated with the Monttvarista political faction and later became a member of the Radical Party. He served as governor of Illapel in 1874 and subsequently as secretary to the diplomatic mission headed by Demetrio Lastarria to Brazil and Uruguay.
In 1882, Villamil was appointed undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior. That same year, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Chillán, serving until 1885. He was subsequently elected deputy for La Serena for the 1885–1888 legislative period.
After leaving Congress, Villamil pursued a diplomatic career and was appointed Chilean minister plenipotentiary to Brazil.
During the presidency of Jorge Montt, Villamil briefly served as Minister of War and Navy from 7 to 8 August 1893. He reassumed the portfolio on 10 August, replacing Isidoro Errázuriz, and remained in office until 6 October 1893, when he was succeeded by Juan Antonio Orrego.
Villamil died in Santiago on 5 November 1909.