Jose Joaquin Prieto (20 August 1786 – 22 November 1854) was President of Chile from 18 September 1831 to 18 September 1841, succeeding Francisco Antonio Pinto and preceding Manuel Bulnes. He was a member of the Conservative Party of Chile.
Biography[]
Jose Joaquin Prieto Vial was born in Concepcion, Chile on 20 August 1786 to a criollo family, and he joined the Chilean War of Independence in 1810 against his father's wishes. He became Quartermaster-General of the southern army under Bernardo O'Higgins, and he became Commanding General of Santiago after the Battle of Chacabuco in 1817. He later supported the Peruvian War of Independence, and, in 1823, he was elected a deputy. In 1828, he became Vice-President of Chile, and he sided with the conservative Pelucones during the Chilean Civil War of 1829. He became President in 1831, restoring law and order and passing a new constitution in 1833. He expanded governmental power, created a public administration, and founded schools and governmental institutions. From 1836 to 1839, he led Chile in the War of the Confederation, and he left office in 1841. He died in 1854.