Armando Quezada
Armando Quezada Acharán (1873 – 3 April 1936) was a Chilean politician who served in both chambers of the National Congress of Chile.
During the presidency of Juan Luis Sanfuentes, he held several cabinet posts, including Minister of Finance and Minister of the Interior. He was later Chilean ambassador to France and rector of the University of Chile.
Early life and career
Quezada Acharán was born in Los Ángeles in 1873, the son of José del Carmen Quezada del Río and Mercedes Acharán de la Fuente. After attending the Liceo de Chillán and the Instituto Nacional, he studied law at the University of Chile and qualified as a lawyer in 1893.
His career in public administration began before he completed his legal studies. He joined the Ministry of Finance in 1888 and subsequently worked for the Chamber of Deputies, initially as a stenographer and later as a parliamentary proceedings editor. He left the latter position in 1909 following his election to Congress.
Quezada Acharán also pursued an academic career in political economy. After teaching the subject in an extraordinary capacity from 1897, he was appointed professor at the University of Chile in 1901. Outside academia and government, he was associated with the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril (SOFOFA), serving as a director and later as its secretary between 1901 and 1918.
He married Lucila García Buquet, with whom he had three children.
Political career
Quezada Acharán joined the Radical Party in 1905 and subsequently held positions within its organization, including membership of its Central Board and participation in a commission responsible for preparing conclusions adopted at a party convention.
He was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Santiago for the 1909–1912 term. Between 24 January and 30 April 1912, he served as second vice president of the Chamber. He won reelection for the 1912–1915 and 1915–1918 terms, serving on committees dealing with finance and internal administration, as well as participating in the Conservative Commission during congressional recesses.
In 1918, Quezada Acharán was elected to the Senate for Santiago for the 1918–1924 term. His committee work included budgets and war and navy, while he acted as a substitute member on committees concerned with agriculture, industry and railways, and finance and municipal loans. His senatorial tenure ended after his appointment to a diplomatic post in 1922, when Ismael Tocornal took his seat.
Minister and diplomatic
Under President Juan Luis Sanfuentes, Quezada Acharán served two terms as Minister of Finance, first from 8 January to 1 July 1916 and again from 14 July to 12 October 1917. In this capacity, he headed the Chilean delegation sent to Buenos Aires for the Pan-American Financial Conference. His periods at the ministry coincided with fiscal and taxation measures that included changes to alcohol legislation, an internal loan and legislation concerning taxation of assets.
He also briefly served in an acting capacity as Minister of Industry, Public Works and Railways in 1918. On 25 November of that year, he became Minister of the Interior, remaining in office until 16 April 1919.
On 26 June 1922, Quezada Acharán was appointed Chilean ambassador and minister plenipotentiary to France. His acceptance of the diplomatic appointment resulted in his departure from the Senate before the scheduled end of his term.
Later life
Quezada Acharán served as rector of the University of Chile from 1929 to 1930. In 1930, he was elected Grand Master of Chilean Freemasonry. He was also involved with the Liga de Estudiantes Pobres and belonged to the Club de la Unión and Club de Septiembre.
His foreign decorations included the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour and the Belgian Order of the Crown.
Quezada Acharán died in Viña del Mar on 3 April 1936.