Carlos Dávila
Encyclopedia
Carlos Gregorio Dávila Espinoza (September 15, 1887 - October 19, 1955), was a Chile
an political figure, Chairman of Government Junta of Chile
in 1932, and Secretary General
of the Organization of American States
from 1954 until his death in 1955.
(then called School of Arts and Crafts) in 1907. In 1911, he entered Law School
at the University of Chile, but dropped out three years later to work for newspaper “El Mercurio
”, of Santiago. He left that paper in 1917 to establish “La Nación
” of the same city, which he directed until 1927. In 1932, he founded the Chilean magazine, “Hoy”.
, and another the same year from the University of Southern California
, in Los Angeles
.
In 1932 Dávila was a member of the Government Junta
and for several months provisional President of Chile
. In 1933, Dávila was visiting Professor of International Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, under the auspices of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
. Later he came to the United States
and was associated for many years with the Editors’ Press Service, and acted as correspondent for numerous important South America
n newspapers. In 1941 he received the Maria Moors Cabot Award from Columbia University
for his distinguished journalistic contribution in the service of the Americas. A prolific writer, Dávila is the author of “We of the Americas”, published in 1949 and has contributed many analytical studies on politics and economics to leading American
publications.
Dávila served on the Council of UNRRA from 1943 to 1946, and was Chilean Representative to the Inter-American Financial and Economic Advisory Committee in 1940. In the same year, he became the author of the “Dávila plan”, which created the Inter-American Development Commission. In 1946, he served as a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
.
Dávila’s first wife, Herminia Arrate de Dávila
, died in Chile in 1941, and Dávila returned to the United States with their two daughters, Luz and Paz. In 1950, he remarried, this time to Frances Adams Moore of Massachusetts
, a widow with a daughter, “Dolly”, by her first husband. Dávila died while serving as Secretary General of the OAS, in 1955.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an political figure, Chairman of Government Junta of Chile
Government Junta of Chile (1932)
Government Junta of Chile , was a political structure established during the anarchy that followed the resignation of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo...
in 1932, and Secretary General
Secretary General of the Organization of American States
According to the Charter of the Organization of American States:-Secretaries General of the OAS:-Assistant Secretaries General of the OAS:*William Manger *William Sanders...
of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
from 1954 until his death in 1955.
Early life
Dávila was born in Los Ángeles, Chile to Luis Dávila and Emilia Espinoza. He graduated from the University of Santiago, ChileUniversity of Santiago, Chile
The University of Santiago of Chile is one of the oldest public universities in Chile.The institution was born as Escuela de Artes y Oficios in 1849, under the government of Manuel Bulnes...
(then called School of Arts and Crafts) in 1907. In 1911, he entered Law School
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the University of Chile, but dropped out three years later to work for newspaper “El Mercurio
El Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
”, of Santiago. He left that paper in 1917 to establish “La Nación
La Nación (Chile)
La Nación is a Chilean newspaper created in 1917 by Eliodoro Yáñez and presided until 1927 by Carlos Dávila. It was a private company until 1927, when it was expropriated by president Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, and since then has remained a state property...
” of the same city, which he directed until 1927. In 1932, he founded the Chilean magazine, “Hoy”.
Political career
From 1927 to 1931, Dávila served as Chilean Ambassador to the United States. In 1929, he received an honorary LL.D. from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and another the same year from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
In 1932 Dávila was a member of the Government Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1932)
Government Junta of Chile , was a political structure established during the anarchy that followed the resignation of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo...
and for several months provisional President of Chile
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
. In 1933, Dávila was visiting Professor of International Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, under the auspices of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
. Later he came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was associated for many years with the Editors’ Press Service, and acted as correspondent for numerous important South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n newspapers. In 1941 he received the Maria Moors Cabot Award from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
for his distinguished journalistic contribution in the service of the Americas. A prolific writer, Dávila is the author of “We of the Americas”, published in 1949 and has contributed many analytical studies on politics and economics to leading American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publications.
Dávila served on the Council of UNRRA from 1943 to 1946, and was Chilean Representative to the Inter-American Financial and Economic Advisory Committee in 1940. In the same year, he became the author of the “Dávila plan”, which created the Inter-American Development Commission. In 1946, he served as a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
.
Dávila’s first wife, Herminia Arrate de Dávila
Herminia Arrate
Herminia Arrate Ramírez was a painter and First Lady of Chile as wife of President Carlos Dávila Espinoza.-Biography:...
, died in Chile in 1941, and Dávila returned to the United States with their two daughters, Luz and Paz. In 1950, he remarried, this time to Frances Adams Moore of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, a widow with a daughter, “Dolly”, by her first husband. Dávila died while serving as Secretary General of the OAS, in 1955.