Luis Rodríguez Velasco
Luis Rodríguez Velasco (9 December 1838 – 14 January 1919) was a Chilean writer, poet, journalist and politician who served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction under President José Manuel Balmaceda. He was also elected substitute senator for Chiloé for the 1888–1894 term.
Early life
Rodríguez was born in Santiago on 9 December 1838 to politician José Antonio Rodríguez Aldea and María Mercedes Velasco y Oruna. He studied humanities at the Instituto Nacional until 1855.
He married Delia Correa Toro on 1 April 1874, with whom he had one son. After her death in 1913, he married Margarita Elvira Vial Infante on 26 November of that year.
Rodríguez devoted much of his career to literature and journalism. He contributed to publications including El Correo Literario, La Asamblea Constituyente, La Semana, Revista de Sud América and La Voz de Chile. He also wrote poetry and drama, publishing his first collection of lyrical poetry in 1868 and the play Por amor y por dinero in 1872.
Political career
Rodríguez was politically associated with the Liberal Party and participated in liberal political organizations and assemblies. He was elected substitute senator for Chiloé for the 1888–1894 term.
Under President José Manuel Balmaceda, Rodríguez served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction from 21 January to 30 May 1890. While holding the portfolio, he also served as acting Minister of the Interior from 21 to 24 February 1890.
During the 1891 Chilean Civil War, Rodríguez remained neutral. According to his parliamentary biography, although personally a friend of Balmaceda, he disagreed with his government. He subsequently withdrew from public life and continued his literary work.
Rodríguez was a corresponding member of the Royal Spanish Academy and a founding member of the Chilean Academy of Language. In 1909, he published a new edition of his poetry.
He died in Santiago on 14 January 1919, aged 80.