Julio Pereira Larraín

Julio Luis Pereira Larraín (Santiago, 11 September 1907 – Santiago, 28 January 1978) was a Chilean lawyer, businessman and conservative politician.

He served as Deputy (1933–1949), Senator (1949–1957), and Minister of National Defense (1961–1963) under President Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez.

Biography Family and education Born in Santiago on 11 September 1907, he was the son of Julio Pereira Íñiguez and Luz Larraín García Moreno. He studied at the German Lyceum of Santiago and then at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating as a lawyer in 1931 with the thesis «El contrato de mutuo».

He married María Teresa Larraín Vial in 1931; the couple had five children.

Professional career After qualifying as a lawyer, Pereira joined the Banco de Chile (1931–1934).

He later became director of the La Chacabuco Insurance Company, vice-president of the Santa Carolina Vineyard, and member of the National Agriculture Society (SNA) and the Club Hípico de Santiago.

Political career He entered the Conservative Party, serving as president and vice-president of its Youth branch and holding senior roles in the party's executive board.

Deputy Elected Deputy for the 7th Departmental Group (Santiago, 3rd District) for the 1933–1937 term, he served on the Committees on National Defense and Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

Re-elected for 1937–1941, he chaired the Committee on Labor and Social Legislation.

He was again re-elected for 1941–1945 and 1945–1949, participating repeatedly in Labor and Social Legislation and in Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

Senator In 1949 he was elected Senator for the 6th Provincial Group (Curicó, Talca, Linares and Maule) for 1949–1957.

He presided over the Committee on Public Education and also served on those of Foreign Relations and Defense, Public Works and Communications, Labor and Social Welfare, and Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

He did not seek re-election in 1957, dedicating himself to political studies and agriculture on his estate «Mallermo» in Alcones.

Minister of State On 26 August 1961 President Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez appointed him Minister of National Defense, a post he held until 26 September 1963.

He visited every Chilean military, naval, and air garrison from Arica to Antarctica, promoted social-welfare programs for military personnel, and prepared a bill to improve their pay scales.

He died in Santiago on 28 January 1978 at age 70.