Rafael Silva Lastra

Rafael Silva Lastra (24 October 1894 – 11 August 1988) was a Chilean politician who served as member of the Chamber of Deputies.

Biography He was born in Linares on 24 October 1894, son of Juan Mauricio Silva Lastra and Gertrudis Lastra Morales.

He married Leontina Moreno Durán, and they had two children.

He studied at the Liceo de Linares, the Instituto Nacional, and the Escuela Normal de Santiago. He later entered the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile. In 1914 he completed his studies at the Escuela Normal and was appointed professor at the Instituto Nacional, where he taught until 1926, when he left teaching due to incompatibility with his position as deputy.

He served as president of the Gremio de Abastos for three years and later worked as a property broker during the 1940s. He was member of the board of the newspaper La Nación and contributor on political matters between 1926 and 1932.

He was one of the members of the Constituent process of 1925, although he did not participate in the debates of the Advisory Commission.

He was member of the Democratic Party, serving as its secretary general and general director.

He was active in sports organizations, serving as vice president of Colo-Colo and president of the Sports Embassy to Peru in 1929. He was also member of the Automóvil Club de Chile.

He died in Santiago on 11 August 1988.

Political career In 1924 he was candidate for deputy for Linares but was not elected.

In 1926 he was elected deputy for the 7th Departamental Grouping of Santiago for the 1926–1930 period. He served on the Permanent Commission of Public Education and as alternate member of the Permanent Commission of Interior Police.

He was re-elected for the same constituency for the 1930–1934 period and served on the Permanent Commission of Foreign Affairs and on the Public Education Commission. The revolutionary movement that broke out on 4 June 1932 decreed, on 6 June, the dissolution of Congress.

In 1932 he withdrew from politics following his defeat as candidate for senator for the 1933–1937 period.