Mateo de Toro Zambrano 1st Count of La Conquista Politician

Field Marshal Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta (Spanish: Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta, I conde de la Conquista) (September 20, 1727 – February 26, 1811), frequently misnamed Mateo de Toro y Zambrano in many Chilean history publications, was Viscount of La Descubierta and later Count of La Conquista (1771) and Knight of the Spanish Order of Santiago. 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.

Personal facts

Mateo de Toro Zambrano 1st Count of La Conquista
Birth dateSeptember 20, 1727
Birth place
Chile , Santiago
Religion
Catholicism
Date of deathFebruary 26, 1811
Place of death
Chile , Santiago
Spouse
Nicolasa Valdés
Children
Gregorio José de Toro 2nd Count of la Conquista
Profession
Field marshal

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