Vicuna-Mackenna
BENJAMIN, a Chilean historian; born in Santiago, Chile, in 1831. He was concerned in many revolutions, traveled extensively, and held many political positions. In 1870 he acted as war correspondent during the Franco-German War; later as correspondent of the "Mercurio" in VIELÉ Berlin and Paris. At the opening of the war with Peru he became editor of "El Nuevo Ferrocarril"; and after the conclusion of the war his description of it became well known for its impartiality. He wrote "The Siege of Chile in 1813"; (1849); "History of Santiago' (2vols. 1868); "Francisco Moyén; or, What the Inquisition in America Meant" (1868); several books on the mineral riches of Chile (1883); "Album of the Glory of Chile" (1883); "Dolores" (1883); "The Isles of Juan Fernandez (1884); "At a Gallop" (1885); "The War in Spain" (1887); and many others. He died in Santa Rosa del Colmo, Jan. 25, 1886.