Ramón Freire

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Lore & Background

Ramón Freire was born in Santiago on November 29, 1787, orphaned early and raised by maternal uncles near Colina. At age 16 he moved to Concepción, working as a clerk and later as an apprentice on a merchant ship. He became a cadet in 1811, fought in battles including Huilquilemu, Talcahuano, El Roble and El Quilo during the Chilean War of Independence, and after the Rancagua disaster went into exile in Buenos Aires. He returned to Chile as a battalion commander in 1817, fought at Maipú, and was promoted to colonel and named Intendant of Concepción under O'Higgins. His friendship with O'Higgins deteriorated, and he resigned in 1822, becoming a rallying point for opponents. After O'Higgins resigned, Freire became Supreme Director from April 4, 1823 to July 9, 1826, and returned to the office in 1827. He abolished slavery, reorganized Valparaíso's defenses, opened markets to world commerce, promoted press freedom, and ordered convents to open free schools. He promulgated a new constitution on December 29, 1823, based on Juan Egaña's project, but it proved impracticable and was abandoned after six months. He created a government monopoly over tobacco, alcohols, cards and tax paper, assigned to Portales, Cea and Co., which became a fiasco and marked Diego Portales's first involvement in government. He completed independence by capturing Chiloé Island in 1826, signing the Treaty of Tantauco. Conflicts with the Holy See arose during the Muzi mission, and domestic conflicts led to his dismissal in 1825, though he was reinstated. He resigned in 1826, handing power to Manuel Blanco Encalada. A revolution brought him back as Provisional President on January 25, 1827; he resigned on February 5, but Congress rejected the resignation and confirmed him as president on February 15. He finally resigned on May 5, 1827. During this period, José Miguel Infante attempted to establish a federal system, which quickly collapsed. Freire later retired to a hacienda but returned to political infighting in the Chilean Civil War of 1829. Defeated at the battle of Lircay, he was imprisoned and exiled to Peru. With help from Andrés de Santa Cruz, he attempted to capture Chiloé, failed, was imprisoned at Valparaíso, court-martialled, and exiled to Juan Fernández, Tahiti, and Australia. He returned to Chile in 1842 and lived peacefully until his death on December 9, 1851.

Reader's Guide

Ramón Freire's significance lies in his leadership of the liberal Pipiolo movement and his multiple terms as head of state during Chile's early republican period. His administration enacted landmark reforms, including the abolition of slavery, the opening of Chilean markets to world commerce, and the promotion of press freedom and public education. He also completed the territorial independence of Chile by capturing Chiloé Island from Spain. However, his tenure was marked by political instability, conflicts with the church, and the failure of a highly moralistic constitution. The government monopoly he created led to a financial fiasco and brought Diego Portales into public life. His later defeat in the Civil War of 1829 and subsequent exiles reflect the turbulent factionalism of the era. Freire's legacy is that of a reformer whose ideals often clashed with the practical challenges of nation-building.

Did You Know?

• The settlement of Santa Rosa was renamed to Freirina in his honor in 1824.
• He was orphaned at an early age and again at 16, then moved to Concepción to work as a clerk and later as an apprentice on a merchant ship.
• He promulgated a new constitution on December 29, 1823, based on a project by Juan Egaña, but it was abandoned after only six months.
• He created a government monopoly over tobacco, alcohols, cards and tax paper that was assigned to Portales, Cea and Co. and turned into a huge fiasco.
• After his final defeat at the battle of Lircay, he was exiled to Peru, Juan Fernández, Tahiti, and Australia before being allowed to return to Chile in 1842.