[1] He served several times as minister, and participated actively in the war of independence in that country.

He was born in Santiago, Chile; the son of Juan Bonifacio de Tocornal and of Narcisa Jiménez Tordesillas; and was an active participant in the Chilean War of Independence, cooperating in the formation of the First Government Junta.

He married Micaela Grez, and after her death, Delfina Jordán; with both wives he had descendants.

With the support of Diego Portales, on May 17, 1832 he was named as Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs during the administration of President José Joaquín Prieto.

He then became the head of the conservatives, and the fiercest critic of the filopolite group, which was under the leadership of the Finance Minister, Manuel Rengifo.