Santiago Pérez Peña

He was born on 19 August 1883 in Santiago, Chile to Santiago Antonio Leoncio Pérez Eastman and Virginia Peña Toro.^[1] He married Blanca Walker Larraín and they had nine children.^[1] He studied at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones in Santiago and later civil engineering at the University of Chile, graduating in 1910.^[1]

He worked in the construction of several railway lines, including Ancud–Castro, sections of the Longitudinal Norte, and the line between Rucapequén, Tomé and Penco, and later held technical responsibilities within the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado.^[1]

He also served as administrator of the Compañía Minera Huanchaca in Bolivia and as commercial agent of the Banco de Chile in the United States before engaging in agricultural activities near Rengo.^[1] He held teaching positions in engineering institutions and participated in professional and civic organizations.^[1]

A member of the Liberal Party, he was elected deputy for Caupolicán for the 1924–1927 term and later reelected for the 1926–1930 period for the 10th Departamental Circumscription (Caupolicán, San Vicente and San Fernando).^[1]

During his service he sat on the Permanent Commissions of Budgets and of Public Works, and later on the Commission of Roads and Public Works, acting also as substitute member on the Commission of Agriculture and Colonization.^[1] In 1927 he resigned from the Chamber and withdrew from political life.^[1] He was appointed Minister of Justice during the Socialist Republic government in June 1932 and later served as Intendant of Magallanes between April and September 1937.^[1]