Tomás Matus
José Tomás Segundo Matus Azócar (14 June 1859 – 28 February 1919) was a Chilean lawyer, judge and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for Rancagua, Cachapoal and Maipo from 1903 to 1906.
A member of the Radical Party, he also served as a municipal councillor and mayor of Talca and held several judicial positions.
Early life
Matus was born in Curepto on 14 June 1859, the son of José Tomás Matus Ibáñez and Telésfora Azócar. He studied at the Liceo de Talca and later at the Instituto Nacional. He studied law at the University of Chile and qualified as a lawyer on 3 January 1882.
He married Zoraida Núñez Matus, with whom he had four children.
Professional career
Matus worked as a lawyer and entered the judiciary, serving as a criminal judge in Talca from 1893. In late 1896, he became a judge of the First Criminal Court of Santiago, resigning from the judiciary in 1899.
He also wrote legal and literary works and worked as a correspondent in Santiago for El Heraldo of Valparaíso. He contributed to La Opinión and La Libertad of Talca and La Ley of Santiago.
Political career
Matus was a member of the Radical Party and represented Curepto at the party convention of 1888. He later served as secretary of its Central Board in 1903.
He served as a municipal councillor in Talca from 1888 to 1890 and as mayor in 1890. During the 1891 Chilean Civil War, he joined the Congressional Army in Iquique with the rank of captain and fought in the battles of Concón and Placilla.
Matus was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Rancagua, Cachapoal and Maipo for the 1903–1906 legislative term. During his tenure, he served as a substitute member of the Legislation and Justice and Elections committees.
Matus died in Las Cruces on 28 February 1919, aged 59.