Abraham Ortega
Abraham Ortega | |
|---|---|
Ortega in 1938 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 24 December 1938 – 8 February 1940 | |
| President | Pedro Aguirre Cerda |
| Preceded by | Luis Arteaga |
| Succeeded by | Cristóbal Sáenz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 June 1891 |
| Died | 20 September 1951 (aged 60) |
| Party | Radical Party |
| Spouse | Betty Fenner (m. 1916) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Santiago Ortega Quezada Edelmira Aguayo Sáez |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Awards | Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle ( Mexico) |
Abraham Ortega Aguayo (14 June 1891 – 20 September 1951) was a Chilean lawyer and politician, member of the Radical Party (PR). He served as Intendant of the province of Concepción under several provisional administrations,[1] and as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the presidency of Pedro Aguirre Cerda.[2]
Biography
Family and education
He was born in Lumaco, in the former province of Arauco, Chile, on 14 June 1891. He was the son of Santiago Ortega Quezada and Edelmira Aguayo Sáez.[2]
He completed his primary education at the Public School of Lumaco and his secondary studies at the Liceo de Hombres de Concepción.[2] He later studied law at the University of Chile, obtaining his law degree (Bachelor in Laws and Political Science) in 1915.[2]
He married Betty Fenner Marín (sister of Oscar Fenner) on 2 February 1916, and they had three children: Renato, Rodolfo and María Isabel.[2]
Political career
From 1924 to 1928 he served as Intendant of the province of Concepción.[1] He was an active member of the Radical Party in Concepción and served as president of the Radical Assembly of Concepción in 1925. In 1928 he established a law practice in Santiago.[2]
Alongside his political and professional activities, he was involved in football administration. He served as president of the Chilean Football Federation and led the Chilean delegation to the 1930 FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay.[2]
In December 1938, during the government of President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, serving until February 1940.[2] During his tenure he supported the asylum policy for Spanish Republicans sheltered in the Chilean embassy in Spain and played an active role in the refugee program that culminated with the arrival in Valparaíso of the ship Winnipeg, carrying close to 2,350 passengers who settled in Chile.[2] He faced political opposition to the asylum program promoted by the Popular Front government.[2]
He also dealt with diplomatic matters arising from the Second World War, promoting an “Americanist” orientation in foreign policy.[2] He was appointed by Aguirre Cerda to serve temporarily in other ministerial portfolios, including (on two occasions) the Ministry of the Interior.[2] He received several decorations, including the Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle, awarded by the Government of Mexico.[2]
In 1941 he was appointed prosecutor of the Instituto de Crédito Industrial and later served as its president until 1951. He also served as prosecutor of the Public Charity Board until his death on 20 September 1951 in Santiago.[2]
References
- ^ a b Campos Harriet, Fernando (1980), op. cit., “Intendentes de Concepción”, pp. 335–338.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n de Ramón Folch, Armando (1999). Biografías de Chilenos: Miembros de los Poderes Ejecutivos, Legislativo y Judicial. Vol. II (2nd ed.). Santiago, Chile: Ediciones Universidad Católica de Chile.
Bibliography
- Campos Harriet, Fernando (1980) [1979]. Historia de Concepción 1550-1970 (II ed.). Santiago, Chile: Editorial Universitaria. p. 382.
- Julio Gálvez Barraza, Neruda y España. Ril Editores, Santiago de Chile, 2003.
- David Schidlowski, Pablo Neruda y su tiempo. Las Furias y las Penas. Ril Editores, Santiago de Chile, 2008, vol. I.
- Abraham Quezada, Epistolario viajero. 1924-1973. Ril Editores, Santiago de Chile, 2004.
- Jaime Ferrer Mir, Los Españoles del Winnipeg. Cal Soga, Santiago de Chile, 1989.
- Volodia Teitelboim, Neruda. Libros del Meridión, Ediciones Michay, Madrid, 1984.
- Edmundo Olivares Briones, Pablo Neruda: Los caminos del mundo. Lom Ediciones, Santiago de Chile, 2001.