José María Caro Martínez

Who was José María Caro Martínez?

José María Caro Martínez was a Chilean politician and civil servant. In May 1894, he was unanimously elected as the first mayor of the commune of Pichilemu, along with Pedro Nolasco de Mira, and Francisco Reyes, who were respectively elected as segundo and tercer alcalde. Caro Martínez had previously served for several years as llavero of the San Antonio de Petrel hacienda, and between 1891 and 1892 was the Subdelegate of the 13th Subdelegation of San Fernando Department, which comprised the district of Cáhuil.

The eleven-year mayorship of Caro Martínez, which lasted from 1894 and 1905, was qualified by journalist and local historian José Arraño Acevedo as "the most fruitful" in the history of the commune. In his four terms, Caro Martínez constructed roads that connected Pichilemu with San Fernando, capital of the department of the same name, and founded several schools in Pichilemu and parts of current Marchigüe.

He resigned in May 1905 and completed his fourth mayoral term as a segundo alcalde. As a mayor, he was succeeded by Francisco Javier Asalgado, who held the office for two non-consecutive terms.