José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano (Latin American Spanish: [xoˈse xo.aˈkim ˈpeɾes]; 6 May 1801 – 1 July 1889) was a Chilean lawyer, diplomat, and politician who served as President of Chile from 1861 to 1871.

Born in Santiago to an aristocratic family, Pérez studied humanities at the Real Colegio Carolino and the Instituto Nacional before earning a law degree from the Royal University of San Felipe.

[1] His early career focused on diplomacy, serving as secretary of the Chilean legation in Washington, D.C. in 1826, chargé d'affaires in France in 1829, and representative to Buenos Aires in 1830.

During his tenure as a Senator and State Councillor under Manuel Montt, Pérez remained neutral in political conflicts, positioning him as a unifying candidate for the presidency in 1861.

[2] Re-elected in 1866, Pérez faced economic challenges due to debts incurred during the Chincha Islands War (1865–1866) against Spain.