Fernando Maira Castellón

Fernando Blas Maira Castellón (25 November 1906 – 20 April 1967) was a Chilean lawyer and politician of the Radical Party. He served as Deputy and Senator of the Republic during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Family and education Maira was born in Santiago on 25 November 1906 to Octavio Maira González and Javiera Castellón Bello.

He completed primary and secondary studies at the Instituto Nacional, later graduating as a lawyer from the University of Chile in 1929.

He married Elsa Palma, with whom he had two children.

Political career His early career included serving as secretary of the 2nd Court of Minor Claims in Santiago, and subsequently working at the Ministry of Justice.

On 4 December 1931, President Juan Esteban Montero appointed him Undersecretary of Public Education, a position he held until 4 June 1932. He was also extraordinary professor of administrative law at the University of Chile.

A member of the Radical Party, Maira was elected Deputy for the 17th Departamental Group (Talcahuano, Tomé, Concepción, Yumbel) for the 1933–1937 term. He served on the Standing Committees of Public Education, Constitution, Legislation and Justice, Labour and Social Legislation.

He was reelected for the 1937–1941 term (Tomé, Concepción, Talcahuano, Yumbel, Coronel), where he sat on the Committees of Education, Medical-Social Assistance and Hygiene, Agriculture and Colonisation, Labour, Justice and Foreign Affairs.

He retained his seat through the parliamentary periods 1941–1945, 1945–1949 and 1949–1953, serving alternately as member or replacement in the Committees of Constitution, Legislation and Justice; Foreign Affairs; and Finance.

In the 1950 complementary election, he was elected Senator for the 7th Provincial Group (Concepción, Ñuble, Arauco), filling the vacancy left by the death of Alberto Moller Bordeu. He joined the Senate on 19 July 1950, and his former Chamber seat was filled by Ruperto Puga Fisher.

During his legislative career, he promoted numerous measures, including: the Commercial Banks Law; the creation of the commune of Ránquil; the National Symphony Orchestra; the Caja Caminera; benefits for aerial clubs; funds for the Instituto Nacional; the construction plan of the University of Concepción; the law modifying the 1925 Constitution; the founding of the College of Civil and Mining Engineers; and cultural institutions such as the Casa de la Cultura and the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Concepción.

He died in Santiago on 20 April 1967.