Arturo Prat Carvajal

Arturo Prat Carvajal (6 March 1878 – 26 April 1942) was a Chilean politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and twice as Minister of Finance, first under President Juan Luis Sanfuentes and later during the vice presidency of Manuel Trucco Franzani.

He was the son of Chilean naval officer Arturo Prat and Carmela Carvajal.

Biography

Prat Carvajal was born in Valparaíso on 6 March 1878. His parents were naval officer Arturo Prat, who was killed during the Battle of Iquique, and Carmela Carvajal Briones.

In 1909, he married Blanca Echaurren Clark. The couple had four children.

Prat Carvajal was named an honorary member of the Sixth Fire Company of Valdivia in 1902. He died in Santiago on 26 April 1942, aged 64.

Political career

Prat Carvajal entered the Chamber of Deputies as representative for Tarapacá and Pisagua for the 1915–1918 legislative term. During this period, he was appointed to the Conservative Commission for the congressional recess of 1916–1917.

He subsequently secured another term in the Chamber for the 1918–1921 legislative period.

President Juan Luis Sanfuentes appointed Prat Carvajal as Minister of Finance on 20 November 1916. He remained in the ministry until 14 July 1917, serving concurrently with his parliamentary mandate.

More than a decade after leaving Congress, Prat Carvajal returned to government during the political crisis of 1931. He again headed the Ministry of Finance under Vice President Manuel Trucco Franzani, holding office from 2 September until 14 November 1931.