Pedro Álvarez Suárez
Pedro Álvarez Suárez (La Serena, 14 December 1893 – Santiago, 17 July 1986) was a Chilean mining engineer and politician, and a member of the Radical Party (PR).
He served as Minister of Economy and Supplies during the administration of President Juan Antonio Ríos from April to October 1942.
Family and education
Álvarez was born in the Chilean city of La Serena, the son of Pedro Álvarez Rojo and Josefina Suárez Jiliberto. His brother, Humberto, a lawyer, served as a parliamentarian and as a minister of state during the administrations of presidents Pedro Aguirre Cerda and Arturo Alessandri.
He completed his secondary education at the Liceo de La Serena and studied at the University of Chile, graduating as a mining engineer in 1916.
He married Hortencia Urquidi, with whom he had two children.
Professional career
Álvarez began his professional career abroad, first in Missouri, United States, and later in Canada, where he worked for American Smelting until 1918. The following year, he worked for a mining company in Carrizal Bajo.
From 1920 to 1933, he worked in the Chilean-operated tin-mining industry in Bolivia. After returning to Chile, he served as deputy section head at the Caja de Crédito Minero, head of its Mineral Purchasing Section in 1934, and manager of the Compañía Minera de Taltal.
Political career
A member of the Radical Party (PR), Álvarez was appointed Minister of Economy and Supplies by fellow Radical president Juan Antonio Ríos on 2 April 1942. He held the position until 21 October of that year.
He subsequently served as vice-president of the state-owned Corporación de Ventas de Salitre y Yodo de Chile, vice-president of the National Mining Society (Sonami), and as a board member of the state-owned Caja de Crédito Minero.
Among his other activities, Álvarez was a member of the Institute of Mining Engineers, which he joined in 1945, and served as its president on two occasions, from 1934 to 1936 and from 1970 to 1971. He was also a member of the Institute of Engineers of Chile and the Club de la Unión. He died in Santiago on 17 July 1986, at the age of 92.