Alfredo Yrarrázaval
Alfredo Yrarrázaval Zañartu (6 December 1867 – 26 June 1934) was a Chilean politician, journalist, writer and poet affiliated with the Liberal Party.
He served as Deputy of the Republic for four consecutive legislative periods between 1900 and 1911, representing Angol, Traiguén and Collipulli, and later Angol, Traiguén, Mariluán and Collipulli.
Biography
Yrarrázaval was born in Santiago on 6 December 1867, the son of Galo Yrarrázaval Smith and Adelaida Zañartu Zañartu. He married Ester Mac-Clure Vergara, with whom he had five children.
He studied at several schools, including the Instituto Nacional, before pursuing law studies at the University of Chile. He left his university studies before graduating and devoted himself to journalism. In 1884, he joined La Época and later wrote for El Heraldo. He founded the satirical political newspaper El Gil Blas in 1888, worked for El Diario in 1896 and, together with his brother, published La Tarde in 1897.
During the Chilean Civil War of 1891, Yrarrázaval joined the congressional forces with the rank of captain and participated in the battles of Concón and Placilla. After the congressional victory, he was appointed military attaché in Italy and later served as secretary of the Chilean legation in Berlin. He subsequently returned to Chile and resumed his journalistic career.
Political career
Yrarrázaval was elected Deputy for Angol, Traiguén and Collipulli for the 1900–1903 legislative period and was reelected for the 1903–1906 and 1906–1909 terms. During these periods, he served on the War and Navy, Finance and Internal Police committees.
He was reelected for the 1909–1912 legislative period, this time representing Angol, Traiguén, Mariluán and Collipulli, and again served on the Internal Police Committee. His parliamentary service ended on 13 July 1911, when he was appointed Chilean minister to Japan; Augusto Smitmans Rothamel subsequently replaced him in the Chamber.
Yrarrázaval continued his diplomatic career after leaving Congress. He was appointed Chilean minister plenipotentiary to Brazil in 1913, ambassador to Germany in 1920 and ambassador to Brazil in 1925. He remained in the latter post until his resignation was accepted in 1930.