Benjam%C3%ADn Vicu%C3%B1a Mackenna

Benjamn Vicua Mackenna was a Chilean writer, journalist, historian and politician. Vicua Mackenna was of Irish and Basque descent.

Benjamn Vicua Mackenna was born in Santiago, the son of Pedro Flix Vicua and Carmen Mackenna Vicua, and grandson of General Juan Mackenna, hero of the Chilean War of Independence. He studied in Santiago, and joined the school of law in 1849. From the beginning of his career he contributed to La Tribuna newspaper, writing political articles. In 1851 he participated in Pedro Urriolas revolution against the government but was taken prisoner during the attack on the headquarters of the Chacabuco Regiment. OnJuly 1851 Vicua Mackenna and Roberto Souper managed to escape from the prison disguised as women. In 1852 he lived in exile in the United States, and travelled from San Francisco through Mexico and Canada. A year later he studied agronomy in England, and then visited many parts of Europe including Ireland.

Source: Wikipedia