BRITISH INFLUENCE IN VALPARAÍSO

At the beginning of the XIX century, Chile opened its frontiers to immigrants fron many different countries, who contributed to make of Chile the country that nowadays is. It's a mixture of  heterogeneous races and cultures especially European.

Valparaíso was a city where the English presence is very important and is reflected in several ways. The English people brought their language, business, social activities, religion, sports, culture. Their influence is so big, that the national writer Joaquin Edwards Bello referred to Valparaíso as the "little Liverpool".

During the XIX century it was often heard people talking in English on Valparaíso's streets. The English people who arrived here, settled themselves in Cerro Alegre, qhich they called "Merry Hill". Soon they were setting up several commercial activities like the Bank of London, the Bank of Agustin Edwards, the Chamber of Commerce, and stores like Casa Gibbs, Botica Londres, Casa de Londres and many more.

Among the institutions that they set up, we have to make mention of Saint Paul's Church in Cerro Alegre, that has got an organ given as a present to the British colony by Queen Victoria, de Union Club, the Valparaíso Sporting Club, the Valparaíso Lawn tennis Club, the Santiago Wanderers and the Valparaíso Wanderers football clubs.

In the educational area, we can still count with the Mackay School and Saint Margaret's School, that not only have contributed giving education to the British descendants, but also to the creole community.

In relation to sports, the British community introduced in our country sports such as football, tennis, hockey, golf and horse races.

We must also mention some persons that were of great importance in the development of some of our institutions and growth. They were:

• William Wheelwright, an American businessman who founded the "Pacific Steam Navigation Company" forerunner of the Chilean Merchant Navy, and also the creator of the train between Caldera and Copiapo. He also set up the basis for the train between Los Andes and Mendoza.
• Lord Thomas Cochrane, British Admiral who headed the Liberty Squad of Peru and later on worked on the training and identity of our Navy.
• Thomas Sommerscales, British painter who portraited scenes of the Pacific war, and also worked as a teacher at the Mackay School.
• Thomas Garland, and English businessman who established the first transportation system between Valparaíso and Santiago.
• Thomas North, an English businessman who devoted himself to the saltpetre exploitation, being well known as the "saltpeter king".

The English Department  -by means of the students of III Year from the Saint Patrick and Saint David levels- wanted to celebrate the Bicentenary of our country showing the importance that the British colony has had throughout great part of our history as an independent nation, supporting us in  the economical, social and cultural growth and development.

Thanks to all the students that made this representation possible.