Jorge Saelzer
Chilean politician (1902–1984)
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Jorge Adolfo Saelzer Balde[note 1] (10 January 1902 – 18 March 1984) was a Chilean veterinarian, farmer, guild leader and politician of German descent.[1] He served as Deputy for the 21st Departmental Group and later as Minister of Agriculture during the first cabinet of President Jorge Alessandri.[1]
Jorge Saelzer | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 3 November 1958 – 15 September 1960 | |
| President | Jorge Alessandri |
| Preceded by | Elzo Pertuiset |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Casanueva Ramírez |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1949 – 15 May 1953 | |
| Constituency | 21st Departmental Group |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1902 Valdivia, Chile |
| Died | 18 March 1984 (aged 82) Loncoche, Chile |
| Party | Agrarian Labor Party (1949–1958) Liberal Party (1958–1966) |
| Spouse | Alwine Anwandter Manns |
| Children | Elisabeth, Leonor and Laura |
| Parent(s) | Georg Saelzer Boettiger Emilia Balde Schilling |
| Alma mater | University of Halle-Wittenberg |
| Occupation | Politician |
Biography
He was born in Valdivia to Georg Saelzer Boettiger and Emilia Balde Schilling, both German immigrants.[2]
He studied at Colegio Carlos Anwandter in Valdivia and later at the Internado Nacional Barros Arana in Santiago.[1] He earned his veterinary degree at the University of Halle-Wittenberg in Germany.[2]
He married Alwine Anwandter Manns, with whom he had three daughters: Elisabeth, Leonor and Laura.[3]
Professional career
Between 1922 and 1924, he completed his professional training in several German regions, including Mecklenburg, East Frisia, Lower Rhine, the Elbe basin, Silesia and East Prussia.[1]
Upon returning to Chile, he worked as an apprentice and steward in southern estates before devoting himself to agriculture. From 1942 onward, he owned the estate “Parque de Huiscapi”. He served as president of the Southern Agricultural Consortium and the Agricultural Development Society of Temuco (SOFO).[1]
Political career
Saelzer was a member of the Agrarian Labor Party (PAL).[4] In the 1949 parliamentary elections, he was elected Deputy for the 21st Departmental Group (Temuco, Lautaro, Imperial, Pitrufquén and Villarrica), serving from 1949 to 1953. He sat on the Committees on National Defense and on Agriculture and Colonization.[2][1]
On 3 November 1958, President Jorge Alessandri appointed him Minister of Agriculture, a post he held until 15 September 1960, during a period marked by intense debate surrounding agrarian reform.[1][2]
He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in the 1965 parliamentary elections, representing the Liberal Party in the 8th Provincial Group (Bío-Bío, Malleco, Cautín).[1]
He also served as president of the National Federation of Chilean Equestrian Sports.[2] He died in Loncoche on 18 March 1984 at age 82.[1]
Notes
- His original name was Georg Adolf Saelzer Balde.