Antonio Varas
Antonio Varas de la Barra ( born June 13, 1817 in Cauquenes, † June 5, 1886 in Santiago de Chile) was a Chilean politician who served several times as minister.
Varas grew up in modest circumstances, as his father, Miguel Varas Vallejo, as a royalist after the Chilean independence lost his goods. With the support of his brother, José Miguel Varas, he could study law at the Instituto Nacional de Chile and the Universidad de Chile. From August 1842 he was admitted to practice before the Corte Suprema, the Supreme Court of Chile. During his studies he learned Manuel Montt Torres and Ventura Cousiño, with whom he became friends.
In addition to his work as a lawyer, he remained the Instituto Nacional also connected as a teacher and eventually served as rector of the university. During his tenure, he was credited for improving teaching quality deserves.
His political career began with the election of the deputies for the constituency of Chillán in 1842. Later he represented the constituencies Cauquenes (1846), Curico (1852 ), Talca (1858 and 1873 ), Santiago (1864 ) and Elqui (1867 ) in the Chilean Chamber of Deputies. In 1847 he was elected vice-president and 1862 president of the Camera of Deputies.
President Manuel Bulnes Prieto appointed Varas, 1845 Minister for the departments of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Culture and Education. His successor, Manuel Montt, with Varas was on friendly terms since student days, took him into his cabinet and put him on an interim basis, the ministries of War and Navy Ministry of Finance as well. With the election of José Joaquín Pérez finished Varas ' ministerial activity. Much later, in 1879, President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia called him - an outspoken political opponent Montt - again a short time minister of the interior.
In the meantime Varas also worked as a Senator and represented there 1876-1888 constituencies Talca and Coquimbo. 1881, 1882 and 1885, he served as president of the Senate.
Varas died at the age of 69 years in Santiago.
Antonio Varas was considered a versatile politician who is one of the most influential people of Chile in the 19th century. His work is closely connected with the Presidency Manuel Montt, as his right hand can be described Varas. As a " super minister" took Varas essential parts of Montt's reform policy. The development of the Chilean south is firmly connected to the two names Montt and Varas, which were also two of the most important newly founded cities ( Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas on the coast inland ) are named.