Manuel Montt Torres (1809-1880) was a Chilean statesman and public servant. One of the ablest and most active of Chile's presidents, he continued the work begun by Diego Portales of organizing his country along orderly, efficient, centralized Conservative lines.

Manuel Montt was born in Petorca of a distinguished family of Catalan descent. After training for the law and entering government service, he played an active part in bringing to justice the assassins of the great Conservative minister Diego Portales, whose spiritual heir he became. Montt was twice appointed minister of the interior, held a succession of other high posts, and completed two terms (1851-1861) as president of Chile.

Montt displayed great energy in promoting reforms in almost every branch of national life. He expanded and remodeled the civil service, founded savings banks, and reorganized the taxation system in order to finance (with the help of a large loan...