When the first government was formed on September 18, 1810, the desire for an independent education system was mounting throughout the citizens of Chile. Juan Egaņa presented a government plan to Mateo de Toro y Zambrano in which one of its chapters said: "The goal of Chile must be a great School of Arts and Science, a school capable of building customs and character. This school needs great funds, we must sacrifice these funds if we want to be free."
This was the foundation for the National Institute. With the formation of the first Congress in 1811, Manuel de Salas, Jose Miguel Infante and Camilo Henriquez supported the project of Egaņa. The amalgamation of the Academy of San Luis and the Convent of San Carlos was proposed. Camilo Henriquez published in the pages of the "Aurora de Chile" (Sunrise of Chile) the National Institute's policies. He also gave, in his own words, the mission statement for this great school: "The mission of the National Institute is to provide the country with citizens who will defend her, guide her, make her blossom and give her honor."
In 1813, the project finally materialized. Jose Miguel Carrera, president of the governmental junta, assumed command of the Chilean Military to contain the invasion of the Spanish army from the south. Meanwhile, in Santiago, government representatives forged ahead with the plan to create the National Institute. On July 27, 1813, that plan was established.
The official opening was held on August 10 of that same year. The opening of the Institute was held at the University of San Felipe, a building that is now occupied by the Municipal Theatre of Santiago.
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The Spanish Army won the war, and the doors of the young Institute were ordered closed. In 1819, the declaration of independence allowed its doors to be reopened. The reopening ceremony was attended by the new Supreme Director of Chile, Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme.
By 1827, Mathematics and French were introduced as new studies. Around the same time, a new branch was created at the Institute: the School of Medicine. The National Institute made history when the first Chilean doctors graduated in their own country.
In 1842, the "Literary Society", Chile's first intellectual movement, was formed. Eusebio Lillo, poet and author of the Chilean National Anthem, was one of many who belonged to that movement. That same year, the University of Chile was created, and courses in Law, Medicine and Agronomy were imparted from the Institute.
In 1850, the National Institute relocated to its present site between San Diego and Arturo Prat Streets right behind the Main Building of the University of Chile, in the heart of Santiago, Chile's capitol city.
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In the late part of the XIX century, one of the Principals of the Institute, Diego Barros Arana, implemented courses in Physics, Chemistry and Geography.
On August 10, 1913, the year that marked 100 years of existence, the Anthem of the National Institute was sung for the first time. In its first 100 years, the school created such solid academic traditions that it was bound to thrive in its next 100 years.
That year, the first Scout Brigade was born. The "Alcibiades Vivencio" was founded because of the visit of Sir Robert Baden Powell. It was the first Scout Brigade in America, and the second one anywhere in the world.
During the unstable XX century, the "Academy of Spanish Letters" was formed. Also, the "Manuel Aguilera Award" was created to honor the best overall student annually. As well, the "Angel Faivovich Foundation", an award given to the top three graduates each year, was founded.
In the 60's, construction of a new building took place. The Institute was now capable of housing more than 4,000 students.
To relive the history of the Institute is to open the pages of a wonderful book. Youngsters came to learn, graduated, and served loyally the mission that Camilo Henriquez had established: to defend, to guide, to blossom and to give honor to Chile. Under the motto "Labor Omnia Vincit", which in Latin means "Hard Work Conquers Everything", the students of this great community keep the sprit of the past alive and remember the great men who formed this part of our history.
