Luis Larraín Prieto

Luis Gonzaga Larraín Prieto (19 June 1859 – 23 March 1938) was a Chilean landowner, agriculturalist, and Conservative Party politician.

He represented Rancagua, Cachapoal and Maipo in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile for two consecutive terms between 1897 and 1903. He later served as Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Colonization under President Emiliano Figueroa.

Larraín was extensively involved in agriculture and became active in organizations representing the country's agricultural sector. Within the National Agricultural Society, he successively served as a councillor, vice-president, and president.

In 1919, he submitted a report to the society's board concerning the treatment of agricultural debtors by the Caja de Crédito Hipotecario, proposing measures to facilitate their acquisition of farming tools and machinery.

Biography

Larraín was born in Santiago on 19 June 1859, the son of José Rafael de Larraín Moxó and Victoria Prieto Warnes. Through his mother, he was a grandson of Chilean president José Joaquín Prieto.

He attended the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones from 1867 to 1869 and also received part of his education in Europe. On 4 November 1884, Larraín married Laura Roberts Valdés. They had four children: Luis, Josefina, Elena and Rafael. He was later widowed.

As vice-president of the National Agricultural Society in 1922, Larraín signed a petition to the government opposing wheat imports. Two years later, while serving as the organization's president, he submitted a memorandum arguing against the abolition of the tax imposed on Argentine livestock imports, maintaining that such a measure would adversely affect Chilean agriculture and livestock production.

In 1928, he published an article on the history and contribution of the National Agricultural Society to the development of agriculture in Chile.

Larraín was also associated with several other organizations. He served as president of the Club Hípico de Santiago and was one of its directors in 1902. He was additionally a director of the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril and a member of the Club de la Unión.

Political career

A member of the Conservative Party, Larraín entered the Chamber of Deputies in June 1897 as representative for Rancagua, Cachapoal and Maipo. During the 1897–1900 legislative term, he served on the Education and Public Welfare Committee.

He was re-elected for the same constituency for the 1900–1903 term. During his second term, he was a member of the War and Navy Committee and also addressed agricultural matters in the Chamber.

On 25 December 1925, President Emiliano Figueroa appointed Larraín Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Colonization. He remained in office until 20 November 1926.

Larraín died in Santiago on 23 March 1938, aged 78.