Melchor de Concha y Toro

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Melchor de Concha y Toro (October 10, 1833 – July 21, 1892) Businessman, lawyer, Chilean politician and Marquis of Casa Concha by the Spanish Crown.

Son of Melchor Santiago de Concha y Cerda and of Damiana de Toro Guzmán. Studied at the Instituto Nacional (National Institute) and at the faculty of law of the University of Chile, receiving his law degree on January 17, 1857. When he entered the University of Chile Faculty of Law, he presented a historical book commended by the university titled Chile during the years 1824 through 1828.

His passion being business, he became the manager of Banco Garantizador. In 1869 he was nominated Minister of Finance by Chilean President José Joaquín Pérez, until August 2, 1870.

Between 1861 and 1871 he belonged to the Conservative Party, but soon became a moderate liberal. Entered politics in 1864 when he was elected representative of Melipilla. He was reelected as representative until 1886, when he was elected to the Senate representing Santiago. In 1879 he was president of the Bolivian Huanchaca Company. In 1891 he resigned his post in support of the congressional side of the Chilean Civil War against then president José Manuel Balmaceda.

He died in Santiago on July 21, 1892.

[edit] Concha y Toro Winery

In 1883, the Marquis Melchor de Concha y Toro entered the wine-making industry by deciding to plant wineries in the valley of the Maipo River. He was responsible for bringing over French seeds, of the Bordeaux region, and hired a French etnologist Monsieur Labouchere. From this personal project, the Concha y Toro winery was born.

He constructed a mansion in 1875 in Pirque to live with his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux. The mansion stands out by its extensive gardens and its rural Chilean style as well as some French touches.