Melquíades Valderrama Sáenz de la Peña (1838–1895) was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Colonization under President Aníbal Pinto. He also served as acting minister of the Interior and of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction, as well as intendant of Valdivia.
Education Valderrama was born in La Serena in 1838, the son of Juan Fernández de Valderrama y Ontol del Olmet and María Dolores Sáenz de la Peña y Sáenz de la Peña. His maternal grandfather, Bernardo Sáenz de la Peña Gutiérrez de Garmilla, was a Spaniard from Cantabria. His brother, Adolfo Valderrama, also pursued a political career.
He studied law and qualified as a lawyer on 14 June 1860, at the age of 22. He subsequently worked in the judiciary, serving as a rapporteur of the Santiago Court of Appeals.
Valderrama married Adela Varela Córdovez, with whom he had three children: Melquíades, Sofía and Ana Luisa.
Political career Valderrama entered public administration and was appointed intendant of Valdivia in 1877.
Under President Aníbal Pinto, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Colonization on 5 July 1880. While holding the Foreign Affairs portfolio, he also temporarily headed other ministries. He served as acting Minister of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction between 16 November and 18 December 1880 and as acting Minister of the Interior on 2 February 1881.
After leaving government, Valderrama continued his professional career. In 1888, he became manager of the Banco Agrícola. In 1891, he was appointed a judge of the Santiago Court of Appeals.
Valderrama died in Santiago in 1895.
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