Carrera family
Encyclopedia
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
became politically influential during the colonial period, and played a significant role in Chilean Independence. They remained politically important throughout the 19th century. Their descendants make up the bulk of the Chilean upper-class.
- María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la CarreraNicolasa ValdésMaría Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera was the first First Lady of Chile from September 18, 1810, when her husband became President in Chile's First Government Junta, until her death four months later....
(1733–1810), first First Lady of Chile
- Ignacio de la CarreraIgnacio de la CarreraIgnacio de la Carrera y Cuevas was a Chilean aristocrat, member of the First Government Junta of Chile, and father of the Carrera brothers, who were some of the most important leaders of the early Chilean struggles for independence during the period of the Patria Vieja...
(1747–1819), member of Chile's first ruling junta in 1810.
The children of Ignacio de la Carrera are known in Chilean history as the Hermanos Carrera (Carrera siblings). All except Javiera were military commanders in the fight against Spanish reconquest:
- Javiera CarreraJaviera CarreraFrancisca Xaviera Eudoxia Rudecinda Carmen de los Dolores de la Carrera y Verdugo , better known as Javiera Carrera, was a member of one of the most aristocratic Chilean families, the Carrera family of Basque origin, who actively participated in the Chilean War of Independence...
(1771–1862), "Mother" of Chile, who sewed its first flag - Brigadier Juan José Carrera (1782–1818), independentist hero
- General José Miguel CarreraJosé Miguel CarreraJosé Miguel Carrera Verdugo was a Chilean general, member of the prominent Carrera family, and considered one of the founders of independent Chile. Carrera was the most important leader of the Chilean War of Independence during the period of the Patria Vieja...
(1785–1821), independentist leader, who governed Chile during its first period of independence, the Patria Vieja. - Colonel Luis CarreraLuis CarreraColonel Luis Florentino Juan Manuel Silvestre de los Dolores de la Carrera y Verdugo was a Chilean military officer who fought in the Chilean War of Independence. Together with his brothers José Miguel and Juan José, they were some of most important leaders of Chilean struggle for independence...
(1791–1818), independentist hero
Other descendants also notable in their time:
- José Miguel Carrera Fontecilla (1821–1860), leader of the Chilean Civil War of 1851
- José Miguel Valdés CarreraJosé Miguel ValdésJosé Miguel Valdés Carrera was a Chilean political figure and liberal politician, who served several times as minister. José Miguel Valdés was of Basque descent by his mother's side....
(1837–1898), politician and several times minister - Luis Aldunate Carrera (1842–1908) politician and several times minister
- Ignacio Carrera PintoIgnacio Carrera PintoIgnacio Carrera Pinto is a Chilean hero of the War of the Pacific.He was born in Santiago, Chile; the son of José Miguel Carrera Fontecilla, of Basque descent, and of Emilia Pinto Benavente. He was the grandson of Jose Miguel Carrera Verdugo, one of Chile's independence heroes...
(1848–1882), soldier and hero of the Battle of La ConcepcionBattle of La ConcepciónThe Battle of Concepción was fought on July 9 and July 10, 1882, during the Sierra Campaign of the War of the Pacific. Heavily outnumbered, the Chilean detachment of 77 men under the command of Lieutenant Ignacio Carrera Pinto was annihilated by a 1.300 Peruvian force, many of them armed with...
during the War of the PacificWar of the PacificThe War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
. - Manuel Carrera Pinto (1854–1895) politician
- Federico Santa María CarreraFederico Santa MaríaFederico Santa María Carrera was a Chilean businessman and philanthropist. He was of Basque descent and member of the notable Carrera family....
(1845–1925) businessman and philanthropist - María Elena Carrera Villavicencio (1929), politician
The Carrera name has disappeared by way of marriage from Chilean society, but their descendants, who number in the few hundred, are socially, politically and financially prominent.