Fernando Alessandri Rodríguez (May 21, 1897 – March 27, 1982) was a Chilean

political figure A politician is a person who participates in policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles or duties tha ...

, candidate of the centre-right in Chile's 1946 presidential election. He was the son of

Arturo Alessandri Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma (; December 20, 1868 – August 24, 1950) was a Chilean political figure and reformer who served thrice as president of Chile, first from 1920 to 1924, then from March to October 1925, and finally from 1932 to ...

, who was president from 1920 to 1925 and again from 1932 to 1938, and brother of Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez, who was president from 1958 to 1964. Alessandri was born in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

, the son of

Arturo Alessandri Palma Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma (; December 20, 1868 – August 24, 1950) was a Chilean political figure and reformer who served thrice as president of Chile, first from 1920 to 1924, then from March to October 1925, and finally from 1932 to ...

and of Rosa Ester Rodríguez. He completed his early studies at the Instituto Nacional, and later graduated as a lawyer from the

Universidad de Chile The University of Chile () is a public research university in Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the co ...

on October 18, 1919. He became professor of Procedural law at the same university in 1922, and in 1924, he married Olga Lyon Vial, with whom he had one son, Fernando, who died at the age of three. After the death of his first wife he married for second time in 1954, to Juanita Izquierdo Huneeus, who survived him. He joined the

Liberal party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

in 1920, and participated actively in the Chilean presidential election of 1920 that was won by his father,

. During this first presidency of his father, he acted as the Secretary of the Presidency. As a lawyer he also drafted the project that eventually became the Organic Code of Chilean Tribunals. He was always very close to his father, and when he was elected president for a second time in the Chilean presidential election of 1932, he again functioned as his assistant. In 1933, Alessandri was elected

deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...

for "Tarapacá and Antofagasta", and in January 1934, he was elected a

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

to replace Aurelio Núñez Morgado, who had been designated Ambassador to

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. He was reelected in 1937 and 1945. In 1939 he accompanied his father on a tour of Europe. In 1946, he was proclaimed

presidential candidate A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

by the Liberal, Radical Democratic, Agrarian Labor, Democratic, Progressive Liberal and "Authentic" Socialist parties who refused to back the Conservative candidate

Eduardo Cruz-Coke Eduardo Cruz-Coke Lassabe (April 22, 1899 – March 18, 1974) was a Chilean political figure, the conservative candidate in Chile's 1946 presidential election and the principal creator of the Chilean health system. Cruz-Coke was born in Va ...

. Nonetheless, his split of the right-wing voting base resulted in the triumph of

Gabriel González Videla Gabriel Enrique González Videla (; 22 November 1898 – 22 August 1980) was a Chilean politician and lawyer who served as the 24th president of Chile from 1946 to 1952. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1930 ...

, with him finishing in third place. After the death of his father, he was elected

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the Speaker (politics), speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's Order of succession, succes ...

to replace him on September 6, 1950, position he retained until 1958. He was again reelected as a

in 1953 and 1961. The progressive and almost total loss of sight forced him to leave public life. In 1966 he abandoned his university classes and in 1969 he declined to run again and slowly withdrew from political life. He concentrated on his law practice and dedicated himself to writing law books and guides. He died in

, in 1982, at the age of 84, due to renal failure.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alessandri Rodriguez, Fernando 1897 births 1982 deaths Politicians from Santiago, Chile

Fernando Alessandri Fernando Alessandri Rodríguez (May 21, 1897 – March 27, 1982) was a Chilean political figure, candidate of the centre-right in Chile's 1946 presidential election. He was the son of Arturo Alessandri, who was president from 1920 to 1925 and a ...

Chilean people of Italian descent Liberal Party (Chile, 1849) politicians Presidents of the Senate of Chile Senators of the XXXVII Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile Senators of the XXXIX Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile Senators of the XL Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile Candidates for President of Chile University of Chile alumni Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

See also

References