Mateo de Toro y Zambrano
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Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta (Santiago, 1727- February 26, 1811) was a Viscount (1769) and later full Count (1771) of the Conquista. He was a Chilean creole and had a career as a soldier under the Spanish Empire after he amassed a fortune in commerce.
In 1810, as the most senior military figure in the Captaincy General of Chile, as well as its Royal Governor, he called a meeting of leading citizens on September 18, 1810. This group would subsequently elect the governing junta similar to those appearing throughout the rebelling Spanish colonies, an action which is generally seen as the first step in Chilean independence process. He was voted the President of this First Government Junta, but his death a year later (he was already 83 years old) precluded him from taking a larger role in the independence of Chile. He died in Santiago de Chile on February 26, 1811.
Preceded by Francisco Antonio García Carrasco |
Royal Governor of Chile 1810 |
Succeeded by Mariano Osorio |
Preceded by Junta Created |
President of Government Junta 1810-1811 |
Succeeded by Juan Martinez de Rozas |