Camilo Henríquez

Friar José Camilo Henríquez González (born in Valdivia, Chile, July 20, 1769 – died in Santiago de Chile, March 16, 1825) was a priest, author, politician, and is considered an intellectual antecedent to and founding father of the Republic of Chile for his passionate leadership and influential writings [In 1922, Counsellor of the Chilean Embassy in the United States, Carlos Castro Ruiz (later Treasury Minister), noted that Henríquez "appears as the spirit of political freedom when many a secular colonist was still vacillating in breaking off his allegiance to the Spanish king" and "Camilo Henríquez and Martínez de Rosas, Salas and Infante were our Paines, Jeffersons, and Franklins of the Revolution." cite journal|journal=Hispania|author=C. Castro Ruiz|title=Chilean Literature|volume=5|issue=4|date=Oct., 1922|url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2133%28192210%295%3A4%3C197%3ACL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-9|format=JSTOR|pages=198] . He was also one of the most important early South American newspaper writers and wrote several essays, most notably the "Proclama de Quirino Lemachez", which promoted Chilean independence and liberty. He also wrote under the pseudonym Quirino Lemachez.

Early life

Henríquez was born in a house that belonged to his grandmother Margarita de Castro, located on what is now Yungay street in the city of Valdivia, Chile. His parents were Rosa González y Castro (1747-1798) and Félix Henríquez y Santillán (1745-1798), a former Spanish infantry captain. Although a native of Valdivia, Henríquez spent much of his youth away from the city. When he was nine years old, he was brought to Santiago de Chile for the start of his formal education at the "Convictorio Carolino". [cite book|title=Camilo Henríquez|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")|year=1889|volume=I|language=Spanish|pages=10] [cite web|url=http://www.auroradechile.cl/newtenberg/681/article-2749.html|title=Camilo Henríquez González|accessdate=2007-06-10|publisher=Auroradechile.cl|language=Spanish]

Religious life

In 1784, at the age of fifteen, Henríquez was sent to study in Lima under the direction of his maternal uncle, Juan Nepomuceno González, a member of the Order of "Ministros de los Enfermos Agonizantes de San Camilo de Lelis". While in Lima, he was educated at a convent of his uncle's Order (usually referred to as simply the "Buena Muerte"), where, notably, he was taught by Friar Isidoro de Celis, an author of works on logic, mathematics, and physics, and a strong proponent of science, rationality, and humanism. After presenting proof of his "limpieza de sangre" (pure Christian blood), Henríquez joined the Order of Buena Muerte as a novice on January 17, 1787 and was officially ordained as a priest on January 28, 1790. Henríquez then cloistered himself to continue his studies. There he befriended José Cavero y Salazar, a fellow student, who would later become a prominent member of the first independent government of Peru and ambassador to Chile; throughout his stay in Lima, Henríquez frequented literary circles, associating with local socialites. [cite book|title=Camilo Henríquez|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")|year=1889|volume=I|language=Spanish|pages=12-17]

Spanish Inquisition

In 1809, Henríquez was arrested and interrogated by the Spanish Inquisition. Miguel Luis Amunátegui notes that Henríquez was always secretive about the reasons for his incarceration, and that claims about it made by historians are speculative in nature. [cite book|title=Camilo Henríquez|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")|year=1889|volume=I|language=Spanish|pages=18] However, the most commonly cited explanation for this is that he was reading, or in possession of, banned books. [cite book|title=Ideas and Politics of Chilean Independence: 1808-1833|author=Simon Collier|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1967|pages=97] Henríquez had been heavily influenced by French Enlightenment philosophy in his early life, and he began to read literature that had previously been banned by the Spanish government. While in Lima, Henríquez, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Social Contract" and Louis-Sébastien Mercier's "L'An 2440, rêve s'il en fut ". [cite book|title=Ideas and Politics of Chilean Independence: 1808-1833|author=Simon Collier|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1967|pages=97] After his release, his superiors in the Order of Buena Muerte sent Henríquez to Quito to found a new convent for the order.

Author and newspaperman

("Primer Congreso Nacional"). His literature instantly catapulted him into the national consciousness, even though his true identity had not yet been made public.

Despite his forays into the political arena, Henríquez was perhaps most famous for his lifelong promotion of and contributions to newspapers. He wrote for numerous periodicals and edited at least 10 newspapers in Santiago and Buenos Aires during his lifetime. On January 16, 1812, Henríquez became the first editor of the "La Aurora de Chile" ("The Dawn of Chile"). "La Aurora" was the first newspaper in Chile, and used a printing press bought from the United States. The first issue was published on February 13, 1812. [cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=174, 480]

During this period, in which Henríquez was serving as a senator, he produced the drama "La Procesión de los Tontos" (The Procession of the Fools"). Due to the censorship of the administration of José Miguel Carrera, the "Monitor Araucano" ("Araucanian Monitor") began publication under the direction of Camilo Henríquez as a substitute for "La Aurora", and their first issue was published on April 17, 1813. He also published the "Catecismo de los patriotas" (“Catechism of the Patriots”) in the "Monitor".

"Proclama de Quirino Lemachez"

The "Proclama de Quirino Lemachez" was one of the most important early revolutionary essays promoting Chilean independence. The proclamation became representative of the rising popularity of independence among the educated Creole elite in Chile. Henríquez' philosophy bears a considerable debt to the social contract theorists of the Enlightenment. Henríquez, as Quirino Lemachez, declared that since none of the patriots or their forebears had consented to a political pact with Spain, they should establish an independent government. The essay contained hints of early Chilean nationalism, claiming that "some day one would speak of the republic, the power of Chile, the majesty of the Chilean people," and caught the attention of many European readers, where it was reprinted. [cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=160]

"La Aurora de Chile"

"La Aurora de Chile", Chile's first newspaper and first printing operation of any kind, issued its first February 13, 1812, with Camilo Henríquez as editor. He used the newspaper to advocate for revolutionary values and to champion the new spirit of education and reason that he believed came with it. He opened the first issue with

"We now have in our possession the great and prescient instrument of universal enlightenment, the printing press...After the sad and insufferable silence of three centuries—centuries of infamy and lamentation !—the voice of reason and truth will be heard amongst us..." [cite book|title=Ideas and Politics of Chilean Independence: 1808-1833|author=Simon Collier|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1967|pages=96-97]

Henríquez described himself as an educator and philosopher, and his publications frequently reflected revolutionary political ideals and Enlightenment notions, especially Rousseauian, of freedom and liberty.

Political activism

Henríquez was one of the most outspoken agitators for Chilean independence, and both with his polemical publications and his career in politics, he became one of the most prominent early national leaders.

War of Independence

After the takeover of power by the local revolutionary junta from the Spanish governors, Henríquez was part of the patriot force that put down the counterrevolutionary "Motín de Figueroa" (Figueroa mutiny) on April 1, 1811. Ironically, Tomás de Figueroa's (the leader of the revolt) only allowance before his execution the next day was receiving the Sacrament of Confession from the local priest, Henríquez himself. [cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=161]

In the First National Congress, Henríquez was an interim deputy for Puchacay. He also gave a sermon on the mass at the inauguration of the sessions at Congress, in which he argued that the Church authorize Congress to create a national constitution. He became the President of the Senate in 1813 as part of a two year stint in the senate (1813-14). He authored several laws, including those that highlighted the "Reglamento Constitucional Provisorio de 1812" and protection of the indigenous people.

Henríquez' brother, José Manuel, was killed during the Disaster of Rancagua, defending one of the trenches of the plaza Rancagua [cite book|title=Camilo Henríquez|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")|year=1889|volume=I|language=Spanish|pages=7] After the Disaster of Rancagua ("Desastre de Rancagua"), Henríquez fled to Mendoza, and would later escape to Buenos Aires. There, Henríquez contributed to the "La Gaceta de Buenos Aires" ("The Buenos Aires Gazette") and "El Censor" ("The Censor"), and he reportedly studied mathematics and medicine while in exile. [cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=480]

After the Reconquista, Henríquez returned to Chile at Bernardo O'Higgins' request and returned to working for newspapers in Santiago.

Later life

Henríquez was named librarian of the National Library of Chile and was in charge of the editing of the "La Gazeta Ministerial de Chile" [cite journal|journal=Hispania|title=The Character of a North American as Drawn in Chile, 1818|author=Alfred Owen Aldridge|url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2133%28196609%2949%3A3%3C489%3ATCOANA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6|format=JSTOR|volume=49|issue=3|date=Sep., 1966|month=Sep|year=1966|pages=489|doi=10.2307/337466] ("Ministerial Gazette of Chile") and another other bulletin about the administration of the country which was the precursor to the El Mercurio ("The Mercury") of Chile.

In 1823, he was an interim deputy for Chiloé and afterwards served as an interim and then fully titular deputy for Copiapó in 1824. During this time, Henríquez was a part of the nine-member "senado conservador" (conservative senate) created to advise the new Supreme Director of Chile, Ramón Freire. [cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=224]

Henríquez died in Santiago in 1825. After his death, the government declared a national period of mourning.

References

Notes

Bibliography

The Memoria Chilena project has compiled a bibliography of Camilo Henríquez' works and publications on him at [http://www.memoriachilena.cl/mchilena01/temas/bibliografia.asp?id_ut=camilohenriquez(1769-1825)]

Biographies

*cite book|title=Camilo Henríquez|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")|year=1889|volume=I|language=Spanish|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=uakOAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage|format=Google Books
*cite book|author=Miguel Luis Amunátegui|year=1892|title=La Alborada Poética en Chile Después del 18 de Septiembre de 1810|language=Spanish|location=Santiago de Chile|publisher=National Press ("Imprenta Nacional")
*cite book|author=Rodríguez Mendoza, E.|title=La emancipación y el fraile de la Buena Muerte|location=Santiago|publisher=Universidad de Chile|year=1951|language=Spanish|url=http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/uchile/rodrigueze01/
*cite book|author=Raúl Silva Castro|title=Escritos Politicos de Camilo Henriquez|year=1960|publisher=Universidad de Chile|language=Spanish|location=Chile
*cite book|author=Alfonso, José A.|title=Camilo Henríquez y sus principios políticos|location=Santiago|publisher=Nascimento|year=1934|language=Spanish
*cite book|author=Edwards, Agustín|title=Camilo Henríquez|location=Santiago|publisher=U. de Chile|year=1934|language=Spanish
*cite book|title=Páginas de la independencia nacional Camilo Henriquez, Juan Martínez de Rozas|others=Introduction by Claudio Orrego Vicuña|location=Santiago|publisher=Editorial del Pacifico: Instituto de Estudios Políticos|year=1976|language=Spanish
*cite book|author=Montt Montt, Luis|title=Ensayo sobre la vida i escritos de Camilo Henríquez|location=Santiago|publisher=Imprenta del Ferrocarril|year=1872|language=Spanish
*cite book|author=Silva Castro, Raúl|title=Fray Camilo Henríquez: fragmentos de una historia literaria de Chile en preparación|location=Santiago|publisher=Universitaria|year=1950|language=Spanish|url=http://www.memoriachilena.cl/archivos2/pdfs/MC0010643.pdf
*cite book|author=Téllez Yáñez, Raúl|title=Fray Camilo Henríquez: el patriota|location=Santiago|year=1945|language=Spanish|url=http://www.memoriachilena.cl/archivos2/pdfs/MC0010644.pdf

Histories

*cite book|title=Ideas and Politics of Chilean Independence: 1808-1833|author=Simon Collier|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1967
*cite book|title=A History of Chile|author=Luis Galdames|others=Trans. and ed. Isaac Joslin Cox|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill|year=1941|pages=174, 480
*cite book|title=Early American literature : a comparatist approach|author=A. Owen Aldridge|location=Princeton, N.J.|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1982

Articles

*cite journal|journal=Hispania|title=The Character of a North American as Drawn in Chile, 1818|author=Alfred Owen Aldridge|url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0018-2133%28196609%2949%3A3%3C489%3ATCOANA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6|format=JSTOR|volume=49|issue=3|date=Sep., 1966|month=Sep|year=1966|pages=489|doi=10.2307/337466
*cite journal|author=A. Owen Aldridge|title=Camilo Henriquez and the Fame of Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin in Chile|journal=Inter-American Review of Bibliography|volume=XVII|year=1967|pages=51–67
*cite journal|author=Amuñátegui Solar, Domingo|title=Genesis de la Independencia de Chile|journal=Anales de la Universidad de Chile|year=1960|volume=118|issue=118|pages=146–164|issn=03657779|language=Spanish
*cite journal|author=Lara, Jorge Salvador|title=Quito y el Fraile de la Buena Muerte Precursor de la Independencia Chilena|journal=Boletín de la Academia Nacional de la Historia|location=Ecuadoryear=1968|volume=51|issue=111|pages=86–103|language=Spanish
*cite journal|title=Periodismo, orden y cotidianeidad: <> de la <> de Mariano Moreno, 1810 y <> de la <> 1812 de Camilo Henríquez|author=Alvaro Kaempfer|journal=Revista Iberoamericana|volume=72|issue=214|month=Jan-Mar|year=2006|pages=125–138|language=Spanish
*cite journal|title=Camilo Henríquez y las vocaciones chilenas en el convento de la Buena Muerte de Lima|author=Guarda Geywitz, Gabriel|journal=Boletín de la Academia Chilena de la Historia|volume=70|issue=113|year=2004|pages=37–51|language=Spanish
*cite journal|title=Camilo Henríquez y la primera imprenta|author=Valencia Avaria, Luis|journal=Boletín de la Academia Chilena de la Historia|volume=50|issue=94|year=1983|pages=293–297|language=Spanish