Bulnes Prieto, Manuel (1799–1866)

Manuel Bulnes Prieto (b. 25 December 1799; d. 19 October 1866), president of Chile (1841–1851). Born in Concepción, Bulnes became a soldier at the age of twelve. He distinguished himself in the Wars of Independence and he fought at the battle of Maipú (5 April 1818). Promoted to general in 1831, he was placed in command of the second Chilean expedition to Peru during the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, and won the decisive battle of Yungay (20 January 1839). On the strength of his popularity as a war hero, he was chosen to succeed Joaquín Prieto (1831–1841) as Chile's president.

A bluff, amiable man with an enormous appetite, Bulnes served two consecutive terms; he displayed great tolerance in tranquil periods but used a firm hand at times of political agitation (1845–1846 and 1850–1851). He was the first Chilean president to use the late-colonial Casa de la Moneda as the presidential palace.

When he finished his second term in September 1851, Bulnes took charge of an army to quell a major revolt in the southern provinces, which was led by his cousin, General José María de la Cruz (1799–1875). Bulnes defeated Cruz in the bloody battle of Loncomilla (8 December 1851). In 1866, opponents of the reelection of President José Joaquín Pérez (1851–1871) proclaimed Bulnes a presidential candidate; had he won, he would have served only one month.

See alsoPeru-Bolivia Confederation; Prieto Vial, Joaquín; Wars of Independence, South America.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Diego Barros Arana, Un decenio de la historia de Chile: 1841–1851, 2 vols. (1905).

Additional Bibliography

Garfias Villarreal, Jorge. Manuel Bulnes Prieto: General del ejército de Chile, gran mariscal de Ancash y presidente de la república. Santiago, Chile: del Instituto Geográfico Militar de Chile. 1986.

                                            Simon Collier