He completed his studies at the Instituto Nacional and then attended the University of Louvain, where he graduated with a doctorate in Political Science.

After the 1891 Chilean Civil War that deposed his brother, President José Manuel Balmaceda, his house was looted, and he was exiled together with his family.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina he published "The revolution and condemnation of the Vicuña ministry", under the pseudonym "Nemo", in which he defended his brother's policies and attacked the revolutionary party.

After being allowed to return to Chile, he concentrated his efforts on the reconstruction of the political base that had been defeated in the war and became the force behind the Liberal Democratic Party.

President Pedro Montt appointed him Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cult and Colonization on August 29, 1908, a position he held until June 15, 1909.