Antonio Viera-Gallo

Antonio Viera-Gallo Barahona (1873 – 23 January 1921) was a Chilean lawyer, politician and journalist who served as Minister of Finance in 1920 during the presidency of Juan Luis Sanfuentes.

Viera-Gallo was a diplomat and the grandfather of Chilean politician José Antonio Viera-Gallo.

Early life and education

Viera Gallo was born in La Serena, Chile, in 1873. He was the son of José Viera Magallanes, a cabinetmaker from La Serena.

He completed his secondary education at the Liceo de La Serena and the Instituto Nacional in Santiago. He subsequently studied law at the University of Chile, graduating on 12 April 1899.

He married Laura Baraona Pérez, with whom he had six children.

Journalistic and political career

Viera Gallo collaborated with the radical newspaper El Coquimbo and worked as an editor for El Progreso in 1890 and La Reforma in 1894.

In 1899, he became private secretary to Minister of Public Instruction Federico Puga. In 1901, he settled in Iquique, where he worked as a lawyer for several commercial and nitrate companies.

He later moved to Santiago and joined the National Party. He became known as a prominent political orator.

In 1920, Viera Gallo served as Minister of Finance during the government of President Juan Luis Sanfuentes. He died in Santiago on 23 January 1921 from a heart attack.

Works

• Estudio jurídico sobre la nacionalidad de los hijos de peruanos residentes en los territorios de Tacna y Arica, nacidos durante la posesión de Chile. Iquique: Imprenta El Nacional, 1913.
• Política minera y salitrera. In: Congreso Chileno de Minas y Metalurgia. Sociedad Nacional de Minería. Iquique: Imprenta El Nacional, 1915.