Juan Miguel Dávila

Juan Miguel Dávila Baeza (born 1851) was a Chilean lawyer, politician and philanthropist who served as Minister of Industry and Public Works under President Jorge Montt in 1895. He was also involved in municipal administration, banking and mutual aid organizations.

Early life

Dávila was born in Santiago in 1851, the son of politician Miguel Dávila Silva and Adela Baeza Valenzuela. He studied law and qualified as a lawyer in 1873.

He married Laura Echeverría Bascuñán and later Julia Urriola Eléspuru.

Public career

In March 1880, Dávila was serving as secretary of the Municipality of Santiago. He later became involved in banking and other private activities.

During the presidency of Jorge Montt, Dávila was appointed Minister of Industry and Public Works on 1 August 1895, succeeding Elías Fernández Albano. He remained in office until 24 November 1895, when Fernández Albano returned to the ministry.

Dávila was also associated with charitable and mutual aid activities. The Sociedad de Socorros Mutuos Juan Miguel Dávila Baeza, which bore his name, received legal personality in 1916 and provided mutual assistance to employees in commercial and financial occupations.

During the 1920s, the society acquired land for a housing development that became known as the Población Dávila Baeza in Santiago.