Joaquín Walker Martínez
Joaquín Walker Martínez (16 August 1853 – 13 October 1928) was a Chilean businessman, politician, writer and journalist who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Senate of Chile.
Associated with the Conservative Party, Walker served several terms in the Chamber of Deputies before representing Santiago in the Senate from 1906 to 1918.
Biography
Walker was born in Vallenar on 16 August 1853, the son of Alejandro Ashley Walker and Teresa Martínez Soria. He studied humanities at the Liceo de Copiapó and later pursued law studies in Santiago. He married Elisa Larraín Alcalde in 1882, with whom he had four children.
He worked in business and journalism, becoming a prominent editor of El Independiente. He entered Congress in 1879 and subsequently represented Santiago and several constituencies in the Chamber of Deputies between 1879 and 1903.
During the Chilean Civil War of 1891, Walker supported the congressional forces and served as Minister of Finance. He later held several diplomatic appointments, representing Chile in Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Cuba.
Walker entered the Senate in 1906 as representative for Santiago and was reelected for the 1912–1918 term. He remained active in politics, diplomacy and writing during his later career.
Walker died in Santiago on 13 October 1928.