Manuel Antonio Matta

Manuel Antonio Matta Goyenechea (Copiapó, February 27, 1826 – Santiago, June 12, 1892) was a Chilean politician, lawyer and writer and founder of the Radical Party of Chile along with Pedro Leon Gallo.

His siblings were: Pedro Nolasco, Francisco de Paula, Felipe Santiago, Guillermo and María Mercedes Matta Goyenechea.

He entered the school of Mrs. Josefa Cabezón de Villarino, the Seminario Conciliar and later the Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera.

In 1841, when he was about to finish his law studies at the University of Chile, his father, Eugenio de Matta Vargas, decided that Manuel Antonio should travel to Europe, where he went when he was only eighteen years old.

During his stays in Germany, France and England he met important political intellectuals such as Francisco Bilbao and Santiago Arcos, who influenced his radical thoughts.

Matta founded the newspaper La Voz de Chile in 1862 and led this group with radical ideas awaiting the arrival of Pedro León Gallo in 1863.

After the fall of Balmaceda, Matta took refuge in Buenos Aires and upon his return he was offered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Worship and Colonization of Chile, a position he assumed and was partly responsible for the Baltimore Case.