he was born in santiago, chile, the son of the basque domingo eyzaguirre escutasolo and of maría rosa de aretxabala y alday. he studied law and theology at the "real universidad de san felipe", graduating in 1789. originally he wanted to become a priest, but later changed his mind, and decided to take over the family hacienda in calera de tango. he married maría teresa de larraín y guzmán peralta on september 13, 1808. during all the rest of his life he dedicated himself to the commerce and the management of his lands.