Orlando Sandoval
Chilean lawyer, farmer and politician (1908-1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Néstor Orlando Sandoval Vargas (7 April 1908 – 9 June 1996) was a Chilean lawyer, farmer and politician. A long-standing member of the Radical Party of Chile, he served five consecutive terms in the Chamber of Deputies between 1941 and 1961, later becoming Minister of Agriculture under President Jorge Alessandri.[1]
Orlando Sandoval | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1941 – 26 August 1961 | |
| Constituency | 16th Departamental Grouping |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 7, 1908 |
| Died | June 9, 1996 (aged 88) |
| Party | Radical Party (1933–1973) |
| Spouse |
Victoria Orellana Lillo
(m. 1938) |
| Children | Hernán, Orlando, Victoria and Jorge |
| Parent(s) | Olayo Sandoval Navarrete Elena Vargas Videla |
| Alma mater | University of Chile (LL.B) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, farmer and politician |
Biography
Sandoval was born in El Carmen on 7 April 1908, the son of Olayo Sandoval Navarrete and Elena Vargas Videla.[2]
He completed his primary education in El Carmen and his secondary studies at the Liceo de Hombres de Chillán.[2] He later studied law at the University of Chile, graduating as a lawyer in 1934. His thesis was titled «La guerra declarada. Conflicto del Chaco, conflicto chino-japonés».[2]
Sandoval worked as a lawyer and farmer, managing his estate El Faro in El Carmen, dedicated to wheat and cattle production.[1]
He married Victoria Orellana Lillo on 4 June 1938; the couple had four children: Orlando, Victoria, Jorge and Hernán.[2] Hernán Sandoval later became a prominent physician and adviser to President Ricardo Lagos.[3]
Political career
Radical Party and early activism
Sandoval joined the Radical Party of Chile in 1933 and soon became president of the Radical Assembly of Chillán. He also led the local branch of the Popular Front.[1] He served as party delegate at national conventions in 1938 (La Serena) and 1941 (Santiago).[1]
Deputy (1941–1961)
In the 1941 Chilean parliamentary election, he was elected deputy for the 16th Departamental Grouping (Chillán, Bulnes and Yungay). He was re-elected in the successive elections of 1945, 1949, 1953 and 1957.[2]
During his twenty years in Congress, he served on the following commissions:[1]
- Foreign Affairs (two terms)
- Constitution, Legislation and Justice (four terms)
- Economy and Trade (two terms)
- Labor and Social Legislation (one term)
Minister of Agriculture (1961–1963)
On 26 August 1961, President Jorge Alessandri appointed him Minister of Agriculture. He held the post until 1 August 1963 and played a significant role in early stages of the Chilean agrarian reform.[1]
Ambassador and senior public posts
In 1963 he was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Belgium and concurrent ambassador to Luxembourg.[2] He later served as director of the Agricultural Development Institute (INDAP) in 1964, and as Chile’s governor before the Inter-American Development Bank at its 4th Annual Meeting in Caracas.[1]
He was also a member of the Caja de Crédito Agrario and served as fiscal attorney in Chillán.[1]
In 1969, he was expelled from the Radical Party along with the “Recuperacionista” faction, later forming the party Democracia Radical.[4]
Mayor of El Carmen (1973–1984)
After the 1973 coup d'etat, Sandoval was appointed mayor of his hometown El Carmen, a position he held for eleven years, until 1984.[1]
Later life and death
He remained active in civic and educational organizations, serving as president of the Liceo de Chillán and participating in the Liga de Estudiantes Pobres, Sociedad de Instrucción Primaria and the Hispanic-Chilean Club of Chillán.[1]
He died in Santiago on 9 June 1996 at the age of 88.[1]