Fidel Estay
Fidel Segundo Estay Cortés was a Chilean farmer, businessman and democratic politician.
He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, as a Senator, and as a minister of state during the provisional government of Bartolomé Blanche and later under Presidents Juan Antonio Ríos and Gabriel González Videla.
Life and education
Estay was born in Nogales on 26 April 1887. He was the son of Fidel Estay and Rosario Cortés.He completed his primary education in Nogales. After the death of his parents, he learned a trade in order to support himself, later moving to San Fernando in 1917, where he worked in the footwear industry and eventually established his own shoe factory.
Estay died on 4 October 1962 in San Miguel. He was honoured posthumously in a special session of the Senate held on 10 October 1962.
Business and social activities
Estay became an industrialist, merchant and agricultural producer. He owned the Santa Ana vineyard in Malloa and collaborated with the Union of Artisans, the Footwear Guild, and the Fraternal Union of San Fernando.He was a member of the San Fernando Fire Brigade, serving as deputy superintendent, and collaborated with the local press.
Estay was a member of the National Economic Council, a councillor of the Mortgage Credit Bank, and a director of the Chilean Electric Traction Company.
He was also a member of the Freemasonry, the Social Club of San Fernando, the Red Cross, and the Society for Popular Instruction.
Political career
Estay joined the Democratic Party, serving as secretary, director and president of the party, and acting as a delegate to its national convention in 1921.He served as municipal councillor and later as mayor of San Fernando.
In the 1924 parliamentary election, he was elected Deputy for San Fernando, but his term was interrupted by the dissolution of Congress following the coup of 11 September 1924.
He was re-elected Deputy in 1925 for the 1926–1930 term. In 1930, he entered the Senate representing Biobío, Malleco and Cautín, though this term was also interrupted by the dissolution of Congress following the 1932 coup d'état.
In 1933, he was elected Senator for Cachapoal, Colchagua and Curicó, and in 1941 for O'Higgins and Colchagua, serving until 1945. During his parliamentary career, he focused on labour legislation and sat on multiple Senate committees, including Labour, Justice, Agriculture and Public Works. He briefly served as vice-president of the Senate in 1944.
During the provisional government of Bartolomé Blanche, Estay served as Minister of Labor between 13 September and 2 October 1932.
He later served twice as Minister of Lands and Colonization: first under President Juan Antonio Ríos, and later under President Gabriel González Videla.