Egaña, Juan, 1768-1836

Juan Egaña Risco (born 31 October 1769 – 20 April 1836) was a Chilean politician and liberal philosopher who wrote the 1823 Constitution of Chile and served as President of the Senate of Chile. Egaña was born in Lima and studied there. First at the Santo Toribio Seminary College where he received a degree in philosophy and later theology and law. He attended the National University of San Marcos and received degrees in Canon and Civil Law in August 1789. Egaña came to Chile in October 1789. His degrees from Peru were recognized by the Royal University of San Felipe a year later. When the chair of Latin and rhetoric was created, he was appointed its full professor. Egaña was also a landowner and businessman. He had a silver mine and sugar mill. He was secretary of the Royal Mining Tribunal between 1802 and 1806. He promoted creating the National Institute. When it was established in 1813, he became a professor. He remained in the position until retiring in 1826.