About Manuel Rengifo
Lived 1793 – 1845 (aged 51). Manuel Rengifo was a Chilean politician.
Manuel Rengifo Cardenas (December 31, 1793 – March 16, 1845) was a Chilean politician. He was Minister of Finance.
Early life He was son of Francisco Javier Rengifo and Ana Josefa Cardenas Vial. At 15 years old, he supported his mother and siblings.
After the disaster of the Battle of Rancagua (1814) he migrated to Mendoza, Argentina. Ruined several times for bad business, their economic situation improved in Santiago organizing the famous Coffee of the Union.
Marriage and children Manuel Rengifo was first married to Dolores Vial Formas (parents Manuel Vial), a widower marries Rosario Vial Formas, both daughters of Agustín Vial Santelices.
Public life On June 19, 1830, he was named finance minister in the administration of Don José Tomás Ovalle. In this position it fit to make an immense task. The country was in the scariest economic deficit when he took over the ministry. One of the most remarkable works of Rengifo, as finance minister, he was the tax and customs reform. Together with it introduced a rigorous economy in public expenditures. Tidied up the mess of debt, both internal and external.
Ovalle, satisfied with the achievements of the Minister Rengifo, who remained in office until his death in 1831, after this Rengifo remained vice president of Fernando Errázuriz Aldunate and the official presidency José Joaquín Prieto.
Rengifo, part of a moderate faction of the conservaties, distanced himself from Diego Portales's authoritarianism. He considered running in the 1836 presidential election.
He held this ministry on September 19, 1831. Shall subrogate the Ministry of Interior (April 13, 1833). On October 28, 1841, he was again elected minister in the government of President Manuel Bulnes Prieto, and deputy in the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs (December 17, 1841). His parliamentary life is summarized in:
Elected by Castro in 1828, but was not incorporated. Deputy for Chiloé (1828–1829) Deputy for San Felipe (1840–1843) Senator (1834–1837, 1837–1843 and 1843–1852).
He died in the year of his term as senator.
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Important facts
People in Manuel Rengifo's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Manuel Rengifo's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Manuel Rengifo?
Chilean politician
When was Manuel Rengifo born?
Manuel Rengifo was born on 31 December 1793 in Santiago.
When did Manuel Rengifo die?
Manuel Rengifo died on 16 March 1845 in Talca.
What was Manuel Rengifo's occupation?
Manuel Rengifo was a politician.
What nationality was Manuel Rengifo?
Manuel Rengifo was Chilean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Manuel Rengifo. https://biography.guide/manuel-rengifo/
MLA: "Manuel Rengifo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/manuel-rengifo/.
Chicago: "Manuel Rengifo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/manuel-rengifo/.
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