Luis Vicuña Cifuentes (17 April 1873 – 21 September 1931) was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, as Minister of War and Navy under President Juan Luis Sanfuentes, and as Intendant of Coquimbo Province under President Arturo Alessandri.
Vicuña Cifuentes was associated for many years with the Club de Septiembre, where he also served as treasurer. He was additionally a member of the Club de la Unión.
Early life and career Vicuña Cifuentes was born in La Serena on 17 April 1873, the son of Benjamín Vicuña Solar and Eudocia Cifuentes Zorrilla. He attended both the local liceo and seminary before moving to Santiago in 1893 to study law at the University of Chile. He received his law degree on 13 July 1898 after completing a thesis entitled Observaciones a la ley de comiso.
After qualifying, Vicuña Cifuentes established his legal practice in Santiago. Although he initially assisted his father with agricultural activities, he subsequently concentrated on the legal profession. In 1903, he was appointed a substitute notary in Santiago for Florencio Márquez de la Plata.
Alongside his legal work, he taught law at the University of Chile and later again held a position as a substitute notary in Santiago.
Political career Vicuña Cifuentes entered national politics as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. In 1909, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for La Serena, Coquimbo and Elqui, serving until 1912. During his first term, he sat on the permanent committee for public instruction.
He was reelected for the same constituency for the 1912–1915 term. In addition to continuing his work on the public instruction committee, he served as a substitute member of the permanent committee for legislation and justice. Vicuña Cifuentes secured a third consecutive term for La Serena, Coquimbo and Elqui in 1915 and remained a member of the public instruction committee until leaving the Chamber in 1918.
Under President Juan Luis Sanfuentes, Vicuña Cifuentes was appointed Minister of War and Navy on 21 January 1918. His initial tenure ended on 18 February, and he returned to the portfolio four days later, serving from 22 February until 15 April 1918.
References
External links BCN Profile