Carlos Souper Maturana

Carlos Souper Maturana (7 January 1885 – 22 January 1950) was a Chilean politician and businessman affiliated with the Liberal Party. He served as Deputy for the 2nd Departamental Group (Antofagasta, Tocopilla, El Loa and Taltal) during the 1945–1949 and 1949–1953 legislative periods, although he died in office in 1950.

Biography Souper Maturana was born in Santiago on 7 January 1885, the son of Carlos Souper Guzmán and Herminia Maturana Maturana. He married María Teresa Sotta Gatica, with whom he had seven children.

He studied at the Seminario Conciliar de Santiago. He later served as General Director of the salitrera “Flor del Toco” from 1914 to 1928.

In 1930, during the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, he faced legal proceedings for the publication of certain proclamations printed at the Naval Printing Office. He was detained for 47 days at the Carabineros School and 50 days at the Public Prison, after which he was acquitted.

Between August 1931 and August 1935 he served as Governor of the Department of Calama, and in 1935 he was appointed Intendant of Antofagasta, a position he held until his resignation on 25 December 1938, after which he moved to Santiago.

He returned to Antofagasta in 1940 and dedicated himself to commercial activities as a wholesaler of industrial and technological instruments. A member of the Liberal Party, he presided over the Liberal Assembly of Antofagasta between 1940 and 1945.

He was elected Deputy for the 2nd Departamental Group (Antofagasta, Tocopilla, El Loa and Taltal) for the 1945–1949 legislative period, serving on the Permanent Committee on Internal Government and as substitute member of the Permanent Committee on Labour and Social Legislation. He was re-elected for the 1949–1953 term, continuing in the Committee on Internal Government. He died in office on 22 January 1950 and was succeeded by Lisandro Cruz Ponce, who assumed on 5 July 1950.

He was a member of the Club de la Unión in Santiago, Club de Antofagasta, Sociedad de Defensa del Niño, the Fire Department—of which he was honorary president—and the Auto Club.

He died on 22 January 1950, while serving as Deputy.