Benjamín Vivanco
Benjamín Vivanco Toro (16 October 1843 – 28 November 1916) was a Chilean politician and engineer affiliated with the Radical Party. He served as Deputy of the Republic for Copiapó, Chañaral, Vallenar and Freirina between 1900 and 1903.
Biography
Vivanco was born in La Serena on 16 October 1843, the son of Benjamín Vivanco Larraín and Ester Toro Sanhueza. He studied at the Liceo de La Serena and the Instituto Nacional before attending the University of Chile, where he graduated as a geographical engineer in 1866.
During his professional career, Vivanco worked extensively in railway engineering and public works. In 1892, he served as acting director general of the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado, replacing Benjamín Videla Pinochet. He later directed the construction project of the Arica–La Paz railway between 1906 and 1913.
He was also a founding member of the Instituto de Ingenieros de Chile, serving as its president from 1902 to 1903, and became an academic member of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the University of Chile in 1904.
Political career
A member of the Radical Party, Vivanco was elected Deputy for Copiapó, Chañaral, Vallenar and Freirina for the 1900–1903 legislative period.
During his parliamentary service, he was a member of the Legislation, Constitution and Justice Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee.