Nicasio Retamales
Chilean parliamentarian and industrialist (1876–1946)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicasio Retamales Leiva (25 October 1876 – 18 July 1946) was a Chilean industrial mechanic, social leader and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served several terms as a deputy between 1926 and 1937 and was a prominent advocate for industry and the working classes.[1]
Nicasio Retamales | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 21 May 1926 – 21 May 1937 | |
| Constituency | 7th Departmental Grouping |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 October 1876 |
| Died | 18 July 1946 (aged 69) |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Dorila Silva |
| Profession | Industrialist, Mechanic |
Biography
Retamales was born in San Bernardo, Chile to Wenceslao Retamales and Carmen Leiva. He married Dorila Silva, with whom he had five children.[1]
He completed his primary education at a public school in Viña del Mar. Between 1886 and 1890, he worked as a mechanical apprentice at the Maestranza of Caleta Abarca. In 1890, he moved to Santiago, where he attended night courses in technical drawing and instruction offered by the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril (SOFOFA) and the Escuela Caupolicán.[1]
From 1894 to 1907, he worked as an industrial mechanic at the Fundición Libertad in Santiago, eventually becoming plant manager. In 1907, he resigned and founded the Fundición Progreso, which manufactured machinery for the parquet industry. The company was awarded a gold medal at the 1910 Industrial Exhibition, and several of its products received awards in 1916.[1]
In 1910, he served as president of the Congreso Social Obrero. As his economic position strengthened, he expanded his social and labor activities, joining numerous workers’ organizations related to equality, labor, mechanical arts, and industrial development.[1]
Political career
Retamales joined the Democratic Party in 1896 at the age of 20, later serving as director, treasurer and vice president of the party.[1]
He was elected municipal councilor of the 4th Commune of Estación in 1906 and later served as second mayor and then mayor of Santiago in 1919.[1]
In 1922, he was appointed commissioner for the centennial celebrations of Brazil and visited Uruguay and Argentina. He was also a member of the Constituent Commission of 1925.[1]
He was first elected Deputy for the 7th Departmental Grouping (Santiago) for the 1926–1930 legislative period, serving on the Standing Committees on Budgets and Objected Decrees and on Industry and Commerce, which he chaired. He was also vice president of the Joint Budget Committee and promoted the creation of the Industrial Credit Institute.[1]
He was re-elected for the 1930–1934 term but the Congress was dissolved following the revolutionary movement of June 1932. He was again elected Deputy for the 7th Departmental Grouping (Santiago, First District) for the 1933–1937 legislative period, serving on the Standing Committees on Interior Government and Industries, the latter of which he chaired, and as a replacement member of the Standing Committee on Finance.[1]
Throughout his parliamentary career, his speeches consistently supported industrial development and the working classes. He also served as vice president and technical director of the Compañía Siderúrgica de Valdivia and, from October 1942, as a councilor of the Corporación de Fomento de la Producción (CORFO). He was a member of the Board of Public Welfare of Santiago and the Caja de la Habitación.[1]