Gerardo Smitmans
Gerardo Smitmans | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 15 May 1926 – 15 May 1930 | |
| Constituency | 8th Provincial Grouping |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1912 – 15 May 1921 | |
| Constituency | Angol and Traiguén |
| In office 13 July 1911 – 15 May 1912 | |
| Constituency | Angol, Traiguén, Mariluán and Collipulli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 December 1876 Angol, Chile |
| Died | 2 May 1953 (aged 76) Santiago, Chile |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mercedes López Torres |
| Occupation | Agriculturist, politician |
Gerardo Augusto Smitmans Rothamel (17 December 1876 – 2 May 1953) was a Chilean agriculturist and politician who served as deputy and later as senator of the Republic. Initially a member of the Radical Party, he later joined the Liberal Party and played a role in regional political life in southern Chile.[1]
Biography
He was born in Angol on 17 December 1876, the son of Juan Arnoldo Smitmans and Catalina Rothamel. He married Mercedes López Torres, and they had eight children; one of them, Juan Arnoldo Smitmans, later served as a deputy.[1]
He studied at the German Lyceum of Santiago and completed part of his education in Germany.[1]
He was one of the founders of the commune of Los Sauces and served as its mayor and municipal councillor between 1903 and 1911. He also founded the newspaper El Malleco in the city of Traiguén.[1]
Smitmans devoted himself primarily to agricultural activities on extensive estates, including the Huitranlehue estate in the commune of Los Sauces in the province of Malleco.[1]
Political career
In his early political career he was a member of the Radical Party, later joining the Liberal Party, where he served as director and member of its executive board. In 1944 he participated in the founding of the Progressive Liberal Party and served on its governing board.[1]
In 1909 he was elected deputy for Angol, Traiguén, Mariluán and Collipulli for the 1909–1912 legislative period. He assumed the seat on 13 July 1911 after the incumbent deputy, Alfredo Yrarrázaval, was appointed minister to Japan.[1]
He was later elected deputy for Angol and Traiguén for the 1912–1915 legislative period, serving on the Standing Committee on Industry and Agriculture.[1]
He was re-elected for the 1915–1918 and 1918–1921 periods, serving on the Standing Committees on Industry and Agriculture and later on Public Works.[1]
He was elected senator for the 8th Provincial Grouping (Arauco, Malleco and Cautín) for the 1926–1930 period. In accordance with the transitional provisions of Decree-Law No. 542 regulating the staggered renewal of the Senate, the grouping was assigned a four-year senatorial term. During this time he served as substitute member of the Standing Committees on Army and Navy and on Hygiene and Public Assistance, and as member of the Standing Committee on Public Works and Communications.[1]
Other activities
He carried out various philanthropic initiatives, including support for the Social Club and the Hospital of Angol. In 1925 he contributed financially to the establishment of the Court of Appeals of Temuco.[1]
He died in Santiago on 2 May 1953.[1]
References
External links
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- CS1 español-language sources (es)
- 1876 births
- 1953 deaths
- Liberal Party (Chile, 1849) politicians
- Radical Party of Chile politicians
- Deputies of the XXX Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
- Deputies of the XXXI Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
- Deputies of the XXXII Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
- Senators of the XXXV Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
