Rafael Casanova Zenteno
Rafael Casanova Zenteno was a Chilean farmer and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for Curicó and Vichuquén from 1903 to 1906. He had previously represented Curepto in the Constituent Congress of 1891.
Early life
Casanova was the son of Rafael A. Casanova Casanova and Adelina Zenteno Gana, a daughter of General José Ignacio Zenteno del Pozo y Silva. He obtained a bachelor's degree in humanities on 3 May 1880 and a bachelor's degree in law on 2 April 1888.
He married his cousin Mercedes Zenteno Valenzuela.
Casanova was involved in agricultural activities. He also worked as an assistant at the Public Library of Valparaíso until 1882.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Casanova served as the party's director general and was a member of its executive board. Following the 1891 Chilean Civil War, he served as a municipal councillor in Santiago.
He represented Curepto in the Constituent Congress of 1891, serving from 15 April to 18 August 1891. He later returned to the Chamber of Deputies as representative for Curicó and Vichuquén for the 1903–1906 legislative term. During this term, he served as a substitute member of the Permanent Government Committee and as a member of the Permanent Industry Committee.
Casanova subsequently retired from politics and settled at his Panamá estate in Paniahue, Santa Cruz. He was a member of the Club de La Unión and the Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura.