Melchor de Concha y Toro
Encyclopedia
Melchor de Concha y Toro (October 10, 1833 – July 21, 1892) Businessman, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...

, Chilean politician and Marquis of Casa Concha by the Spanish Crown.

Son of Melchor Santiago de Concha y Cerda and of Damiana de Toro Guzmán. Studied at the Instituto Nacional
Instituto Nacional
Instituto Nacional , founded on August 10, 1813 by the Chilean patriot José Miguel Carrera , officially Liceo Ex A-0 - Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera, is Chile's oldest and most prestigious school...

 (National Institute) and at the faculty of law of the University of Chile, receiving his law degree on January 17, 1857. When he entered the University of Chile Faculty of Law, he presented a historical book commended by the university titled Chile during the years 1824 through 1828.

His passion being business, he became the manager of Banco Garantizador. In 1869 he was nominated Minister of Finance by Chilean President José Joaquín Pérez
José Joaquín Pérez
José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1861 and 1871....

, until August 2, 1870.

Between 1861 and 1871 he belonged to the Conservative Party, but soon became a moderate liberal. Entered politics in 1864 when he was elected representative of Melipilla. He was reelected as representative until 1886, when he was elected to the Senate representing Santiago. In 1879 he was president of the Bolivian Huanchaca Company. In 1891 he resigned his post in support of the congressional side of the Chilean Civil War
Chilean Civil War
The Chilean Civil War of 1891 was an armed conflict between forces supporting Congress and forces supporting the sitting President, José Manuel Balmaceda. The war saw a confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Chilean Navy, which had sided with the president and the congress, respectively...

 against then president José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández was the 11th President of Chile from September 18, 1886 to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile...

.

He died in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...

 on July 21, 1892.

Concha y Toro Winery

In 1883, the Marquis Melchor de Concha y Toro entered the wine-making industry by deciding to plant wineries in the valley of the Maipo River
Maipo River
Maipo River is the main river flowing through Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile. Its headwaters are on the west slope of Maipo volcano, in the Andes. Its most famous tributary is Mapocho River. The Maipo River is by far the major source of irrigation and potable water for the region.-Course:In...

. He was responsible for bringing over French seeds, of the Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...

 region, and hired a French etnologist Monsieur Labouchere. From this personal project, the Concha y Toro
Concha y Toro
Concha y Toro is the largest producer of wines from Latin America and is one of the global leaders in its field. It is headquartered in Santiago, Chile.Concha y Toro Winery is located in Chile. It comprises 8.720 ha...

 winery was born.

He constructed a mansion in 1875 in Pirque
Pirque
Pirque is a commune of Chile in Cordillera Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region; it is located 2.8 kilometers SE of Puente Alto and 21.3 kilometers SSE of the center of Santiago. It is situated in a mountain chain.-Demographics:...

to live with his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux. The mansion stands out by its extensive gardens and its rural Chilean style as well as some French touches.
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