José María Lorca

He was born in 1872 in Copiapó, Chile to José María Lorca Sánchez and Petronila Pellross Cabeza.^[1] He married Ester Cortínez Mujica in Valparaíso on 8 December 1908 and they had nine children.^[1]

He studied at the Liceo de Valparaíso.^[1] He devoted himself to commercial activities in Valparaíso and later undertook studies in Argentina related to trade between the two countries.^[1]

In 1922 he established in Chile the agency of the Expreso Villalonga, acting as its manager, and held directorships in insurance companies and in the Sociedad de Plantaciones de Valparaíso.^[1] He was a member of the Club de la Unión and the Club de Septiembre.^[1]

A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served as director and president of that political organization and as councilor of the Municipality of Valparaíso.^[1] He was elected deputy for the 6th Departamental Circumscription (Valparaíso, Quillota, Limache and Casablanca) for the 1926–1930 term, serving as substitute member on the Permanent Commission of Finance and as member of the Permanent Commission of Roads and Public Works.^[1]

He was reelected for the 1930–1934 period, acting as substitute member on the Permanent Commission of Industry and Commerce and as member of the Permanent Commission of Roads and Public Works; the Congress was dissolved on 6 June 1932.^[1]