Joaquín Prieto Concha

Joaquín Prieto Concha (Santiago, 10 July 1892 – Santiago, 29 December 1976) was a Chilean lawyer, businessman, and politician affiliated with the Conservative Party.

He served as Deputy (1933–1941), Senator (1941–1957), and Minister of Agriculture (1931–1932), Public Health (1936–1937), and Mining (1962–1963) under three different presidents – Juan Esteban Montero, Arturo Alessandri Palma, and Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez.

Biography Born in Santiago on 10 July 1892, he was the son of lawyer and finance minister Joaquín Prieto Hurtado and Lucía Concha Subercaseaux, granddaughter of Melchor Concha y Toro. Through his father he was a direct descendant of former President José Joaquín Prieto Vial.

He completed his secondary studies at the Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera and earned his law degree from the University of Chile in 1915. He married Rosa Elvira Matte Hurtado, daughter of Claudio Matte Pérez, with whom he had one son, José Joaquín.

Political career Deputy and Senator A member of the Conservative Party, Prieto was first elected Deputy for the 8th Departmental Group (Melipilla, San Antonio, San Bernardo and Maipo) for 1933–1937, and re-elected for 1937–1941.

In 1941 he entered the Senate representing Biobío, Malleco and Cautín, being re-elected for 1949–1957. He chaired and served on numerous committees including Finance, Agriculture and Colonization, Education, Public Health, Government, and Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

Ministerial positions He first served as Minister of Agriculture under President Juan Esteban Montero (1931–1932).

Under Arturo Alessandri Palma he was appointed Minister of Public Health (1936–1937).

Later, President Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez named him Minister of Mining (1962–1963).

Other activities He was president of the Sociedad Periodística de Chile (1933–1941), a director of the Compañía Manufacturera de Papeles y Cartones (CMPC), and served on the board of the Central Bank of Chile (1959).

He was also a member of the Club de La Unión, the Club Hípico de Santiago, and the National Agriculture Society.

He died in Santiago on 29 December 1976 at the age of 84.