Patricio Phillips
Chilean politician (1922–1997)
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Patricio Phillips Peñafiel (23 August 1922 – 17 October 1997) was a Chilean politician and member of the National Party.
Patricio Phillips | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 15 May 1973 – 11 September 1973 | |
| Constituency | 8th Provincial Group |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1957 – 15 May 1973 | |
| Constituency | 20th Departmental Group |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1922 |
| Died | 17 October 1997 (aged 75) |
| Party | |
| Spouse | Carmen Sáenz |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (No degree) |
| Occupation | Politician |
He served multiple terms as Deputy for the 20th Departmental Group (1957–1973) and was elected Senator for the 8th Provincial Group in 1973, before his mandate was interrupted by the 1973 Chilean coup d'état.
Phillips began his political career in the Liberal Party, later joining the National Party. He also served as mayor of Traiguén (1953–1957). After the coup, he supported the military regime and participated in right-wing political negotiations during Chile’s transition to democracy.
Early life
He was born in Santiago on 23 August 1922, the son of Arturo Phillips and Isabel Peñafiel.
He studied at the Colegio San Ignacio and then at the Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy, where he attained the rank of Army officer, resigning in 1946 with the grade of second lieutenant.
After leaving the military, he dedicated himself to agricultural activities, managing estates such as "Santa Isabel" in Victoria and "Calatayud" in Lautaro. He also directed the Santa Julia stud farm and served as official administrator of Haras Las Espigas.
Political career
Phillips was elected mayor of Traiguén in 1953, serving until 1957. In the same year, he was elected Deputy for the 20th Departmental Group as a member of the Liberal Party, being reelected in 1961 and 1965. From 1969 to 1973 he served as Deputy under the National Party.
In 1973, he was elected Senator for the 8th Provincial Group (Biobío, Malleco and Cautín). His parliamentary career ended after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and the subsequent dissolution of Congress.
Following the coup, Phillips supported the military regime. In the 1980s he worked to re-legalize the National Party, participated in the Acuerdo Nacional para la Transición a la Plena Democracia (1985), and backed the “Yes” option in the 1988 plebiscite. He later attempted to return to parliament in the 1989 elections, but was unsuccessful.