Carlos Acharán Pérez de Arce

Carlos Acharán Pérez de Arce (Valdivia, 6 October 1891 – Santiago, 14 March 1961) was a Chilean teacher and liberal politician.

He served as Deputy for the 22nd Departmental District –Valdivia, La Unión, Villarrica, and Río Bueno– between 1926 and 1930, and later represented Valdivia, La Unión, Osorno, and Río Bueno from 1933 to 1953. Subsequently, he became Senator for the 9th Provincial District –Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue, Chiloé, Aysén, and Magallanes– from 1953 until his death in 1961.

Biography Family and early life He was born in Valdivia on 6 October 1891, the son of Clodomiro Acharán Smith and Francisca Pérez de Arce. He married Marta Boggiano Godoy, María Roach Vergara, and later Lucía Muñoz Cortés-Monroy in 1922.

Education and professional career He studied at the Escuela Normal Camilo Henríquez in Valdivia, graduating as a teacher in 1905. He later taught accounting at the same institution.

He also engaged in commercial activities as an importer and exporter between Valdivia and Peru, where he founded the School of Arts and Crafts in the city of Trujillo.

In 1920 he was appointed Public and Treasury Auctioneer in Valdivia and served as Regidor of the same city between 1928 and 1932.

Political career A member of the Liberal Party, he was elected Deputy for Valdivia, La Unión, Villarrica, and Río Bueno (1926–1930), participating in the Permanent Commission on Education.

He was reelected for Valdivia, La Unión, and Osorno (1933–1937), joining the Commissions on Foreign Relations and Commerce. Reelected again (1937–1941), he took part in the Interior Government Commission.

Later, as Deputy for Valdivia, La Unión, and Río Bueno (1941–1945), he joined the Permanent Commission on Medical-Social Assistance and Hygiene, and in the following term (1945–1949), he served on the commission for Agriculture and Colonization.

During his last term as Deputy (1949–1953), he worked in the Commission on Foreign Relations.

Finally, as Senator for the 9th Provincial Group (1953–1961), he was part of the Permanent Commission on Labor and Social Welfare. He strongly advocated for the creation of the Austral University of Chile, founded in Valdivia on 7 September 1954.

Other activities He was a member of the Valdivia Social Club, the Club Deportivo Arturo Prat, the charity Gota de Leche, and the Society for the Protection of Poor Students. He also belonged to the Second Fire Company “Bomba A. Edwards R.” of Valdivia.