Carlos Palacios Zapata
Carlos Alberto Palacios Zapata (20 October 1868 – 15 January 1903) was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and as a minister of state.
He served as Minister of War and Navy and Minister of Justice and Public Instruction under President Federico Errázuriz Echaurren.
Early life
Palacios was born in Bulnes on 20 October 1868 to Manuel Palacios and Juana Zapata Sotomayor. He studied at the Liceo de Concepción, the Liceo de Chillán and the Instituto Nacional, and qualified as a lawyer on 29 May 1890.
He practiced law and also worked as a writer. Palacios was active in the Club del Progreso and the Liberal Party. During the Chilean Civil War of 1891, he joined the revolutionary army and fought at the Battle of Concón, where he was seriously wounded. Following the victory of the congressional forces, he remained in the army and attained the rank of captain before leaving military service to pursue a political career.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Party, Palacios participated in the reorganization of the party from 1892. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Yungay and Bulnes for the 1894–1897 term and served on the permanent committee for constitution, legislation and justice.
He retained the same constituency in the 1897 election and served until 1900. During this term, he became vice president of the Chamber of Deputies on 9 June 1897 and continued as a member of the constitution, legislation and justice committee.
Palacios was elected for a third consecutive term in 1900 and represented Yungay and Bulnes until his death in January 1903. He became president of the Chamber of Deputies on 11 July 1900. During his final term, he continued to serve on the legislation and justice committee and also participated in the war and navy committee and the Conservative Commission for the 1901–1902 parliamentary recess.
President Federico Errázuriz Echaurren appointed Palacios Minister of War and Navy on 25 August 1897. He remained in office until 23 December of that year.
He subsequently served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction from 27 June 1898 to 27 June 1899. During his tenure, the Liceo de Niñas No. 3 in Santiago was established, and measures concerning the national organization of public education were implemented.
Palacios died in Santiago on 15 January 1903, before completing his third term as a deputy.