Aníbal Zañartu

Who was Aníbal Zañartu?

Aníbal Zañartu Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served several times as minister and as Vice President in 1901.

He was born in Concepción, the son of Miguel José de Zañartu Santa María and of Juana de Mata Zañartu. After completing his studies in his native city, he graduated as a lawyer from the Universidad de Chile on July 19, 1870. Zañartu married Amelia Iñiguez Vicuña and they had six children. He owned a carbon mine in the Dichato beach, near Tomé. Aníbal Zañartu was of Basque descent.

He started his political career as plenipotentiary ambassador to Ecuador, in 1880, during the War of the Pacific. In 1882 was elected as a deputy for San Fernando. In 1885 he was first elected as a deputy for Chillán, on August 22 was elected president of the chamber of deputies and on September 3 was named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Colonization by President Domingo Santa María. On June 28, 1887 President José Manuel Balmaceda named him Minister of the Interior.

In 1888 Zañartu was elected a Senator for Concepción, and was reelected in 1894. On June 3, 1892, was elected vice-president of the Senate.