Aníbal Cruzat Ortega

Celso Aníbal Cruzat Ortega was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician of the Radical Party.

Biography He was born in San Carlos on 2 August 1888, the son of Celso Emiliano Cruzat Fernández and Carmen Ortega. He studied at the Liceo de Hombres de Concepción and later studied law in Valparaíso, being sworn in as lawyer on 30 April 1912 with a thesis titled De las obligaciones solidarias.

He taught Procedural Law for 14 years at the Law School of Valparaíso and served as its director between 1915 and 1931. He married Sara Matta Ruiz on 14 September 1917, with whom he had six children.

Political career Cruzat was elected Deputy for Valparaíso and Casablanca for the period 1921–1924; during this time he served on the Permanent Commissions of Legislation and Justice, and of War and Navy.

He later became Senator for the Third Provincial Group "Aconcagua and Valparaíso" for the period 1937–1945, entering on 18 December 1940 following the death of Senator Álvaro Santa María Cerveró. In the Senate he served on the Permanent Commission of Constitution, Legislation and Justice (first as substitute, then as full member and later president) and on the Permanent Commission of National Defense.

Additionally, he served as Intendant of Valparaíso between February 1939 and July 1940.