Domingo Durán

Domingo Antonio Durán Morales (13 June 1881 – 20 May 1961) was a Chilean civil engineer, public administrator and politician of the Radical Party. He served multiple terms as a deputy, was president of the Chamber of Deputies, and held ministerial office during both administrations of President Arturo Alessandri Palma.

Biography Durán was born in Collipulli on 13 June 1881, the son of Calixto Durán Valderrama and María Morales Moreno. He married Julia Neumann Aravena on 26 April 1913; the couple had three children.

He studied at the Liceo de Temuco and the Instituto Nacional, and later entered the University of Chile, where he graduated as a civil engineer on 16 October 1905.

Following his graduation, he joined the Directorate General of Public Works, becoming chief railway engineer in 1909. He led the construction of the Saboya–Capitán Pastene railway and participated in studies for the Curicó–Los Queñes and Loncoche–Villarrica railway lines. He later worked as a contractor and held senior positions in private enterprises, including director of the Compañía de Petróleos de Chile and the insurance company La Metropolitana. Between 1942 and 1947, he served as Executive Vice President of the Caja de Empleados Particulares.

Political career A member of the Radical Party, Durán Morales was president of several party organizations in Temuco, including the Radical Assembly and Propaganda Center.

He was appointed Intendant of Talca and later served as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction from 3 January to 1 February 1924, during the first government of President Arturo Alessandri Palma. During Alessandri’s second administration, he simultaneously served as Minister of Education and Minister of Justice from 24 December 1932 to 19 April 1934.

Durán was elected deputy for the 21st Departamental District (Temuco, Imperial and Llaima) for the 1921–1924 term, and later for the 6th Departamental District (Valparaíso, Quillota, Limache and Casablanca) for the 1926–1930 term. He served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 7 to 15 May 1924 and chaired the Standing Committee on Public Works during both of his parliamentary terms.