Ignacio Urrutia Manzano

Who was Ignacio Urrutia Manzano?

Ignacio Urrutia Manzano was a Chilean politician. He served twice as President of the Senate of Chile and minister.

He was born in Concepcion, the son of Luis Urrutia Rozas and of Aurora Manzano Benavente. He completed his studies in his native city, and then attended the Naval Academy, where he became a naval officer. As such, he was sent to supervise the construction of several ships that were being built at the Armstrong shipyards in Newcastle upon Tyne. He eventually returned to Chile on board the recently completed "Esmeralda". He retired from the navy in 1906 while at the same time renouncing his pension. He married Luzmila de la Sotta Benavente and together they had seven children.

He started his political career as mayor of the city of Parral. He joined the Liberal Party and was elected a deputy for "Loncomilla, Linares and Parral" and was reelected for the same constituency. President Juan Esteban Montero appointed him Minister of War and Navy, position he held between April 8 and June 4, 1932. His political career was put on hold by the collapse of the second administration of President Montero and the dissolution of the National Congress by a Government Junta; due to the advent of the Socialist Republic of Chile.