Manuel Bulnes Prieto (president, 1841-51), hero of…

Manuel Bulnes Prieto (president, 1841-51), hero of the victories over the Chilean Liberals at the Battle of Lircay in 1830 and over the Bolivian army at Yungay in 1839, becomes president in 1841.

As a decorated general, he is the ideal choice to consolidate the Portalian State and establish presidential control over the armed forces.

He reduces the size of the military and solidifies its loyalty to the central government in the face of provincial uprisings.

As a southerner, he is able to defuse regional resentment of the dominant Santiago area.

Although Bulnes staffs his two administrations mainly with Conservatives, he conciliates his opponents by including a few Liberals.

He strengthens the new political institutions, especially Congress and the judiciary, and gives legitimacy to the constitution by stepping down at the end of his second term in office.

Placing the national interest above regional or military loyalties, he also helps snuff out a southern rebellion against his successor.