Jorge Urzúa Urzúa

Jorge Urzúa Urzúa (18 April 1886 – 19 June 1980) was a Chilean lawyer and radical politician who served as a deputy, provincial governor, and Minister of Agriculture during the presidency of Juan Antonio Ríos.

Biography Urzúa Urzúa was born in Santa Cruz on 18 April 1886, the son of Neftalí Urzúa Rojas and Jovina Urzúa Urzúa.

He completed his primary education at Colegio San Pedro Nolasco and his secondary studies at Colegio San Ignacio in Santiago. He later studied law at the University of Chile, qualifying as a lawyer on 12 May 1912, after presenting the thesis The crime and the civil liability arising from it.

He married Berta Rencoret Bezanilla.

Professional career Urzúa Urzúa practiced law in Santiago and later served as legal adviser to the Chilean Plebiscitary Commission in Tacna. He held senior positions within the Caja de Crédito Agrario, serving as head of its legal section and later as general manager and board member from 1939 onward.

He also engaged in agricultural activities, managing the estate La Selva in Santa Cruz.

Political career A prominent member of the Radical Party, Urzúa Urzúa served as party director and executive committee member of the Popular Front, which supported the election of President Pedro Aguirre Cerda in 1938.

He was appointed Governor of the Department of Santa Cruz by President Arturo Alessandri in 1920, a position he held until September 1924. He also served as Intendant of the former Province of Chiloé.

In the 1924 parliamentary elections, he was elected Deputy for Ancud and Quinchao, but his term ended prematurely following the dissolution of the National Congress on 11 September 1924.

He returned to Congress after being elected Deputy for the 24th Departmental Group (Ancud and Castro) for the 1933–1937 term, and later for the 10th Departmental Group (San Fernando and Santa Cruz) for the 1941–1945 term. During these periods, he served on multiple standing committees.

On 14 May 1945, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture by President Juan Antonio Ríos, a position he held until February 1946.