Ramón Escobar Escobar
Ramón Escobar Escobar (5 September 1836 – 1 November 1924) was a Chilean lawyer, judge and politician who served as a member of both chambers of the National Congress of Chile. He represented Concepción Province in the Senate of Chile from 1903 to 1909 and served as president of the Senate between 1907 and 1909.
Escobar also served twice as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction, under presidents Federico Errázuriz Echaurren and Pedro Montt.
Early life
Escobar was born in Santiago on 5 September 1836, the son of Francisco Escobar Prado and Antonia Escobar Gutiérrez. He completed his secondary education at the Instituto Nacional before studying law at the University of Chile. He qualified as a lawyer on 13 January 1859.
He began his public career as an official in the Ministry of the Interior, where he worked from 1857 to 1863. He subsequently served as secretary of the Intendancy of Arauco between 1863 and 1871. In 1871, he was appointed protector of Indigenous people in Chiloé, and on 16 January 1872 he became intendant of Chiloé.
Escobar later entered the judiciary. On 2 January 1874, he was appointed a judge of the Second Court of Concepción. He became an acting member of the Court of Appeals of Concepción on 29 November 1883 and was appointed to the court on a permanent basis on 20 March 1884. He remained in that position at the outbreak of the 1891 Chilean Civil War.
Outside public office, Escobar worked as a lawyer and was also involved in agriculture and commerce. He founded the Concepción newspaper El Orden. In 1900, he moved to Santiago, where he continued his political activities and returned to private legal practice.
Escobar married Matilde Smith Massenlli, with whom he had six children.
Political career
Escobar entered the Chamber of Deputies as the representative for Laja for the 1870–1873 term. During his tenure, he served as a substitute member of the Permanent Committee on Education and Welfare. He also participated in the Constituent Congress of 1870, which considered reforms to the Constitution of 1833.
A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Escobar helped establish the party's organization in Concepción and became the first president of its local executive board. Following the defeat of President José Manuel Balmaceda's forces in the Battle of Placilla in 1891, he participated in efforts to reorganize the political movement associated with Balmaceda. He later attended the presidential convention of 1920.
On 1 May 1901, President Federico Errázuriz Echaurren appointed Escobar Minister of Justice and Public Instruction. He remained in office until 18 September 1901, when Germán Riesco assumed the presidency. During his tenure, changes were made to legislation governing the organization and powers of the courts.
Escobar returned to Congress when he was elected to the Senate for Concepción Province for the 1903–1909 term. He served on committees dealing with constitutional and legal affairs, public education, and industry and public works. He was also a member of the Conservative Commission during several congressional recesses.
During the presidency of Pedro Montt, Escobar again served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction, holding the portfolio from 29 October to 30 November 1906.
On 14 October 1907, Escobar became president of the Senate, succeeding Juan Luis Sanfuentes. He held the presidency until 2 June 1909, when he was succeeded by José Elías Balmaceda. His senatorial term also ended in 1909.
Escobar died in Santiago on 1 November 1924, aged 88.