Rafael Valentín Errázuriz

Who was Rafael Valentín Errázuriz?

Rafael Valentín Errázuriz Urmeneta was a Chilean politician and diplomat. Rafael Errázuriz was of Basque descent.

Rafael Valentín Errázuriz was born in Santiago, the son of Maximiano Errázuriz Valdivieso and of Amalia Urmeneta Quiroga. He completed his secondary studies at the Instituto Nacional, and later at the Universidad de Chile where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar on August 12, 1881. He joined the Conservative party very young; and on October 10, 1889, Errázuriz married Elvira Valdés Ortúzar, and together they had 6 children.

Errázuriz came from a well-known winemaking family. Later he took over Panquehue Errázuriz, the family's wine estate. Errázuriz was elected deputy several times, first for Ovalle, then for Illapel, Ovalle and Combarbalá and for Lebu, Cañete and Arauco. He also served as a senator for Aconcagua between 1897 and 1906. President Federico Errázuriz Echaurren appointed him Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Cult and Colonization and President Germán Riesco appointed him Minister of the Interior.

In 1907, Errázuriz was named Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held until 1921. He died in the city of Rome in 1923.