Mateo de Toro Zambrano, 1st Count of La Conquista
Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta ( born September 20, 1727 Santiago, Chile, † February 26, 1811 same place ) - in some sources also: Mateo de Toro y Zambrano - was a Creole officer and politician in Chile. In 1810 he was the last Spanish Governor of Chile until his death in 1811, he stood in front of the First Government Junta of Chile.
Life
Origin and Youth
According to the baptismal records of Santiago, he was baptized in the name Matheo. His father was Carlos José de Toro Zambrano y Escobar, his mother Jerónima de Ureta y Prado. The family was of noble birth and belonged to the rich upper class of Santiago de Chile. They were distantly related to the family Carrera.
Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta married on May 3, 1751 María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera, with whom he had ten children.
Career
Toro Zambrano made a brilliant career in the colonial administration. He was stage manager in the municipality of Santiago, and later he served as community leaders (Spanish: alcalde ) of Santiago and as a staff officer in the Captaincy General of Chile. He reached the rank of field marshal. In his official duties, he was considered dutiful and correct.
Elevation to the peerage
With a certificate, dated March 6, 1770, he was elevated to the status of a Count ( Conde de la Conquista ). This was associated with the designation as Vicomte ( Vizcondado previo ). His eldest son, José Gregorio inherited the title.
Governor
On July 16, 1810, he took over as the highest-ranking officer on the spot the governorship after Francisco Antonio García Carrasco was forced to resign. He was the first -born governor of Chile ( Creole ).
At this time, the royalist Spaniards had come together in the mother country under a Junta Suprema Central, as they fought against Napoleon, who had their King Ferdinand captured. Also in Chile was formed increasingly a political movement that aimed to achieve the convening of a local junta. Toro Zambrano was at that time 82 years old and probably had no great political ambitions more. Under pressure from the juntistas he convened an open meeting on the future government of Chile. This took place in Santiago on 18 September 1810.
President of the Government Junta
The Juntistas stormed the podium at the meeting and shouted: "We want a junta We want a junta! " (Spanish: " ¡ ¡ junta junta queremos queremos! "). Toro Zambrano then submitted his mace on the table and shouted: "Here is the staff, take him and reigns! " (Spanish: " He aquí el bastón Disponed de él y del command. . " )
The Assembly then elected a government junta and made Toro Zambrano as their President. His deputy was the bishop of Santiago, José Martínez de Aldunate, which, however, was only slightly younger at 79 years. In office died Mateo Toro Zambrano in Santiago on February 26, 1811.