Manuel Guzmán Maturana

Manuel Guzmán Maturana (29 May 1876 – 5 December 1941) was a Chilean professor, writer and politician who served as member of the Chamber of Deputies.

Biography He was born in Santiago on 29 May 1876, son of Pantaleón Guzmán and Mercedes Maturana. He married Isaura Dinator Rossel, and they had two children.

He studied at the Instituto Nacional and at the Instituto Pedagógico of the University of Chile, qualifying as Professor of Spanish in 1900. While still a student he began writing poetry under the pseudonym Edmundo Dantés, and in 1901 published Versos.

He served as teacher at the Liceo Barros Borgoño and the Liceo Miguel Luis Amunátegui, and was appointed professor at the Instituto de Sordos Mudos in 1899. In 1905 he published the first edition of his Libro de lectura o lector chileno.

He was inspector general, vice-rector and rector of the Liceo de Aplicación between 1905 and 1925, when he was appointed inspector of public secondary schools, retiring that same year. He was also professor at the University of Chile and proprietor of the Librería y Casa Editorial “Minerva.”

He was member of the Radical Party. In 1924 he was elected Second Grand Master of the Masonic Order.

He participated in numerous educational and social institutions and was president of the Sociedad Nacional de Profesores between 1929 and 1932. He founded the Hogar Social in 1929.

He authored various works including poetry, short stories, textbooks and Spanish language manuals.

He died on 5 December 1941.

Political career He was elected deputy for the 7th Departamental Grouping of Santiago for the 1926–1930 period. He was alternate member of the Permanent Commission of Interior Government and member of the Permanent Commissions of Public Education and Interior Police.

He served as delegate of the Chamber of Deputies before the Council of Primary Education for two periods. During his parliamentary service he introduced a progressive educational reform bill.