Luis Vergara Ruiz
Luis Antonio Vergara Ruiz (24 May 1865 – 23 May 1946) was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician who served as a member of both chambers of the National Congress of Chile. He represented Cautín Province in the Senate of Chile from 1906 to 1912 and served as president of the Senate between 1909 and 1911.
Vergara also held several government positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Worship and Colonization and Minister of the Interior.
Early life
Vergara was born in Santiago on 24 May 1865, the son of José Ignacio Vergara Urzúa and Matilde Ruiz Fontecilla. He attended the Liceo de Talca before studying law at the University of Chile. He qualified as a lawyer on 19 April 1886.
Alongside his legal career, Vergara pursued academic work. He taught political economy, administrative law and mining law at the university section of the Instituto Nacional. From 1908 to 1914, he taught procedural law at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
In 1920, Vergara was appointed as an arbitrator in a labour dispute involving coal workers from Lota, Coronel, Curanilahue and Schwager.
Vergara married Sara Zañartu Eguiguren, with whom he had two children. He later married Raquel Moreno García.
Political career
Vergara was affiliated with both the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party. His public career began in the executive branch, where he served as undersecretary of the Ministry of Public Works in 1887.
He entered the Chamber of Deputies in 1891 as a representative for Chillán. He subsequently represented Chillán and San Carlos for three consecutive terms between 1894 and 1903, before being elected for Talca, Curepto and Lontué for the 1903–1906 term.
While serving in Congress, Vergara was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Worship and Colonization, holding the portfolio from 30 October 1904 until 1 August 1905. During this period, he also temporarily assumed responsibility for the Interior Ministry between June and August 1905.
Vergara was elected to the Senate for Cautín Province for the 1906–1912 term. During the presidency of Pedro Montt, he served as Minister of the Interior from 12 June to 25 October 1907. For several days in June 1907, he also temporarily assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Industry and Public Works.
On 29 December 1909, Vergara was elected president of the Senate, succeeding Víctor Ismael Valdés. He remained in office until 8 August 1911, when he was succeeded by Ricardo Matte.
Vergara left the Senate at the end of his term in 1912. He died in Santiago on 23 May 1946, one day before his 81st birthday.