Pedro Aguirre Cerda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Aguirre Cerda
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| 22nd President of Chile | |
| In office December 25, 1938 – November 25, 1941 |
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| Preceded by | Arturo Alessandri |
| Succeeded by | Jerónimo Méndez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 6, 1879 Pocuro, Chile |
| Died | November 25, 1941 (aged 62) Santiago, Chile |
| Cause of death | Tuberculosis |
| Resting place | Cementerio General de Santiago |
| Political party | Radical |
| Spouse |
Juana Rosa Aguirre Luco
(m. 1916) |
| Education |
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Pedro Abelino Aguirre Cerda (born February 6, 1879 – died November 25, 1941) was an important Chilean political figure, a teacher, and a lawyer. He served as the 22nd President of Chile from 1938 until he passed away in 1941.
Pedro Aguirre Cerda joined the Radical Party in 1906. He was chosen by a group of left-wing parties called the Popular Front to be their candidate for president in 1938, and he won the election. Before becoming president, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies (like a representative) and a minister in different government roles. He died at 62 years old from tuberculosis while still serving as president.
Early Life and Education
Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born on February 6, 1879. His birthplace was a small village called Pocuro, near the city of Los Andes in Chile. He was the seventh of eleven children. His parents were Juan Bautista Aguirre Campos and Clarisa Cerda Escudero.
When Pedro was eight years old, his father, a farmer, passed away. His mother then had to manage the farm and raise all eleven children by herself. His family had roots from the Basque region.
Pedro went to the Pedagogical Institute of the University of Chile in Santiago. He became a Spanish teacher there. Later, he studied law at the same university and became a lawyer in 1904.
In 1910, he received money from the government to study in Paris, France. He studied administrative and financial law at the Sorbonne. He also learned about economics and social laws at the Collège de France.
Pedro returned to Chile in 1914. He started working as a teacher at the Instituto Nacional. He also became the president of the National Society of Teachers. In 1916, he married his cousin, Juana Rosa Aguirre Luco. They did not have any children.
Political Career
Pedro Aguirre Cerda was a respected teacher, lawyer, and politician. He was the first dean of the new school of economy at the University of Chile. As a member of the Radical Party, he served as a minister. He was the Minister of Public Instruction and the Minister of the Interior. He held these roles during the presidencies of Juan Luis Sanfuentes and Arturo Alessandri.
During a time when the military had a lot of power, Pedro Aguirre Cerda was treated unfairly. He became a strong leader against the government of General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.
In the 1938 Chilean presidential election, a group of left-wing parties and worker unions chose him as their candidate. This group was called the Popular Front. He won the election by a very small number of votes. He beat the right-wing candidate, Gustavo Ross, by only 4,111 votes.
Presidency of Chile
Pedro Aguirre Cerda became president on December 25, 1938. His main goal was summed up in his famous saying: "Gobernar es educar" (to govern is to educate). Because he was a teacher, education was his top priority.
He worked to improve technical and industrial schools. This helped train skilled workers for Chile's growing industries. He also created thousands of new regular schools. He encouraged universities to open branches across the country.
His government also worked on other important issues. They gave some land to farmers and helped set up farming communities. They built affordable homes and more schools. His government also helped include Marxist political parties in the country's political system.
During his first year as president, he faced some challenges. There was military opposition to his plans, which led to an event known as the Ariostazo. He also actively supported the idea of Gabriela Mistral receiving a Nobel prize. She eventually won the prize after he had passed away.
In terms of the economy, a terrible earthquake in 1939 caused a lot of damage. This event helped push him to create the Production Development Corporation (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción - CORFO). This organization gave money and made investments to help Chile's industries grow. This was a big step for Chile's industrial development. It led to the creation of steel, manufacturing, and sugar industries.
In 1941, Pedro Aguirre Cerda became very ill. He appointed his Minister of the Interior, Jerónimo Méndez, to act as vice-president. Pedro Aguirre Cerda died soon after, on November 25, 1941, in Santiago, Chile, from tuberculosis. Jerónimo Méndez served as acting president until Juan Antonio Rios was elected and took office in April 1942.
Legacy
During a Chilean expedition to Antarctica in 1950–51, explorers honored Pedro Aguirre Cerda. They named the Aguirre Passage, located between Lemaire Island and Danco Coast, after him.
Salvador Allende was a close friend of Pedro Aguirre Cerda. He served as the Minister of Health during Aguirre Cerda's presidency. Salvador Allende later became president of Chile himself in 1970.
See also
- Economic history of Chile
- Ariostazo
- In Spanish: Pedro Aguirre Cerda para niños
