Alfredo Barros Errázuriz

Alfredo Barros Errázuriz (11 May 1875 – 6 July 1968) was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician. A prominent member of the Conservative Party, he served as deputy and senator of the Republic and held ministerial office during the presidency of Ramón Barros Luco.

Biography He was born in Santiago on 11 May 1875, to Juan de la Cruz Barros Fuenzalida and Luzmila Errázuriz Ovalle. On 4 November 1897 he married Isabel Casanueva Opazo, with whom he had nine children.

He studied at the Colegio San Ignacio in Santiago and later at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating on 26 May 1896.

Barros worked as a public servant for the Ministry of Interior from 1891 until 1901, working in a number of positions including as an archivist, and as head of its Government and Municipalities department.

He would later work in academia as a professor of civil law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile between 1904 and 1931, and later as an honorary professor from 1932.

He died in Santiago on 6 July 1968.

Political career Barros joined the Conservative Party in 1906 and became one of its leading figures, later serving for many years as honorary president. In later years he also participated in the formation of the National Party.

He was first elected deputy for Yungay and Bulnes for the 1906–1909 legislative period and was re-elected for the 1909–1912 period.

He subsequently entered the Senate as senator for Llanquihue for the 1912–1918 period. During this term he served on the Standing Committees on Constitution, Legislation and Justice, and Public Instruction.

He was later elected senator for Linares for the 1918–1924 period, serving again on committees dealing with legislation and public instruction.

In 1926 he was elected senator for the 7th Provincial Grouping (Ñuble, Concepción and Bío Bío) for the 1926–1934 period. He served on the Standing Committee on Public Education and as substitute member of the committees on Army and Navy and on Constitution, Legislation and Justice. His term ended prematurely when Congress was dissolved on 6 June 1932 following the socialist coup d'état.

During the presidency of Ramón Barros Luco he served briefly as Minister of Finance from 3 to 6 September 1914 and immediately afterwards as Minister of War and Navy from 6 September to 15 December 1914. His tenure coincided with the outbreak of the First World War, during which Chile maintained neutrality.

Intellectual and social activities Influenced by the papal encyclical Rerum Novarum, Barros played an important role in promoting early social legislation in Chile. He contributed to the drafting and promotion of several pioneering labour laws, including the Ley de la Silla (Seat Law), the law establishing Sunday rest, the first law on workers’ housing and one of the first laws regulating workplace accidents.

He was also active in journalism and publishing, directing newspapers and writing numerous legal works. In addition he held positions in several economic institutions and companies, including the Banco Español de Chile, the Banco de Santiago, the Cemento El Melón company and various mining and nitrate enterprises.

Deeply involved in Catholic social organisations, he was a founding member and president of Acción Cristiana and participated in several Marian and charitable associations. In 1924 he was awarded the papal decoration of Commander of the Order of Pius IX.