Alberto Edwards Argandoña
Alberto Edwards Argandoña (1848 – ?) was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and as Minister of Finance under President Ramón Barros Luco.
A member of the Conservative Party, Edwards represented Valparaíso and Limache in the Chamber of Deputies between 1879 and 1891. He later served as Minister of Finance from September 1914 to December 1915.
Early life and career
Edwards was born in La Serena in 1848 to Juan Bautista Edwards Ossandón and Ventura Argandoña O'Shee. He married María Luisa Vives Pomar, with whom he had children.
He qualified as a lawyer on 9 June 1871 and subsequently practiced law in Valparaíso.
Edwards was also active in municipal affairs in Valparaíso. He served as second mayor of the municipality in 1876 and as a municipal councillor in 1879. During the War of the Pacific, he served as a captain in the National Guard and as an aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief of the Army of Reserve of the Northern Coast.
Political career
A member of the Conservative Party, Edwards was elected as a substitute member of the Chamber of Deputies for Valparaíso for the 1879–1882 legislative term.
He was subsequently elected as a full member for Valparaíso for the 1882–1885 term. In 1885, Edwards was elected to represent Limache and served until 1888, during which time he was a member of the permanent committee for finance and industry.
Edwards returned as deputy for Valparaíso for the 1888–1891 legislative term, completing his fourth period in the Chamber.
President Ramón Barros Luco appointed Edwards Minister of Finance on 15 September 1914. He remained in office until 15 December 1915. While serving as finance minister, Edwards also served as acting Minister of Justice and Public Instruction from 2 to 9 March 1915.