Manuel Cruzat Vicuña

Manuel Cruzat Vicuña (26 June 1878 – 11 April 1947) was a Chilean agriculturist, industrialist and politician who served as member of the Chamber of Deputies.

Biography He was born in Santiago on 26 June 1878, son of Ricardo Cruzat Hurtado and Amelia Vicuña. He married Sara Balmaceda Zañartu, and they had three daughters.

He studied at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones from 1889.

He worked as agriculturist and industrialist. In 1923 he owned the "San Juan" estate of 4,300 hectares in Llolleo, commune of San Antonio. He was capitalist partner of the firm Luis Lagarrigue y Compañía, which in 1913 carried out works at Laguna Verde to increase the water supply of Santiago. In 1939 he served as director of the Compañía de Teléfonos de Chile.

He was member of the Conservative Party and member of its board. He also belonged to the Conservative Parliamentary Committee.

He served as mayor of the Municipality of San Antonio in 1900, as second mayor between 1909 and 1912 and from 1912 to 1915, and as sixth councilor between 1915 and 1918.

He was member of the Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura (SNA), the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril (SOFOFA), and of the Club de la Unión.

He died in Santiago on 11 April 1947.

Political career He was elected deputy for Victoria, Melipilla and San Antonio for the 1918–1921 period and served on the Permanent Commission of Government.

He was re-elected for the 1921–1924 period and served on the Permanent Commission of Interior Police.

He was re-elected for the 1924–1927 period and continued serving on the Permanent Commission of Interior Police. Congress was dissolved on 11 September 1924 by decree of the Government Junta.

He was elected deputy for the 8th Departamental Grouping of La Victoria, Melipilla and San Antonio for the 1926–1930 period, serving as alternate member of the Permanent Commission of Finance and member of the Permanent Commissions of Roads and Public Works and Interior Police.

He was again elected for the same constituency for the 1930–1934 period and served on the Permanent Commissions of Finance and Roads and Public Works. The revolutionary movement that broke out in July 1932 decreed, on 6 June, the dissolution of Congress.

As parliamentarian he supported the improvement of the port of San Antonio, the road connecting that port with Santiago, public works and railway development.