Carlos Sáez Morales
Carlos Sáez Morales (1 April 1881 – 14 April 1941) was a Chilean Army officer and writer who twice served as a cabinet minister in 1931 and 1932.
He was Minister of War during the vice presidencies of Pedro Opaso and Juan Esteban Montero, and later served as Minister of War and Aviation under Vice President Abraham Oyanedel from October to December 1932.
Early life and family
Sáez was born in Santiago on 1 April 1881, the son of Army officer Emilio Sáez Herrera and Auristela Morales Peña y Lillo. He had two brothers. Florentino Sáez, who was born in Copiapó, also pursued a career in the army. His other brother, Julio Sáez, was born in Antofagasta and became an English teacher. Julio later served as headmaster of the Liceo de Concepción from 1935 to 1950 and was a founder and vice-president of the Club Aéreo de Planeadores de Chile.
Carlos Sáez received his primary and secondary education at the Liceo de Chillán.
He married his cousin Estela Sáez Rojas. They had four sons: Emilio, Carlos, Luis Alfredo, and Raúl Sáez. The first three were born in Germany. Raúl became an engineer and later served in cabinet-level positions under President Eduardo Frei Montalva and during the military government headed by Augusto Pinochet.
Military career
Sáez entered the Military Academy as a cadet in 1895 and graduated in 1900 with the rank of first lieutenant.
In 1908, he was attached to the Imperial German Army, serving with a field artillery regiment of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. During his time in Germany, he also worked with the German industrial and armaments company Krupp.
From 1913 to 1915, Sáez served as director and instructor at the Colombian Military Academy. He also taught at the Chilean Army's War Academy.
Between 1925 and 1930, he was stationed in Europe as part of a Chilean military mission tasked with studying and arranging the acquisition of weapons for the Chilean Army. By late 1930, proposed contracts covering the purchase of artillery pieces, machine guns, and carbines had been prepared for approval. The procurement was ultimately not completed after financial difficulties prevented the contracts from being finalized.
Political career
Following the resignation of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo from the presidency, Vice President Pedro Opaso appointed Sáez Minister of War on 26 July 1931. Opaso was succeeded the following day by Juan Esteban Montero, who retained Sáez in the cabinet. Sáez remained minister until 14 August 1931.
On 3 October 1932, Vice President Abraham Oyanedel appointed Sáez to the cabinet for a second time, as Minister of War and Aviation. He held the portfolio until 24 December 1932.
Three days after leaving the ministry, Sáez retired from the Chilean Army after 37 years of service. At the time of his retirement, he held the rank of army general, then the highest rank in the service.
Sáez was also a member of the Club Militar de Chile. He died in Santiago on 14 April 1941, thirteen days after his 60th birthday.