Federico Santa María
Encyclopedia
Federico Santa María Carrera (c. October 13, 1845 - December 20, 1925) was a Chile
an businessman and philanthropist
. He was of Basque
descent and member of the notable Carrera family
.
Federico Santa María was born in Valparaíso, the son of Juan Antonio Santa María Artigas and of Magdalena Carrera Aguirre. Although he was a member of two of the most respected and influential Chilean families of the 19th century, the Santa María
and the Carrera
families, he made his huge fortune in the sugar markets of Paris
, in which he arrived when he was very young.
His importance in the sugar market was considerable: he became a major power in the French economy. During World War I
he closed down all his businesses, declaring that he did not want to profit from war. He also supported the French Army, donating clothes and weapons for an entire regiment.
Because he had no descendants, he gave his entire fortune to his hometown Valparaíso
for the founding of a technical and engineering school. The result of his legacy was the Federico Santa María Technical University.
He was a distant relative of famous Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau
.
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 businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent and member of the notable Carrera family
Carrera family
The Carrera family of Chile became politically influential during the colonial period, and played a significant role in Chilean Independence. They remained politically important throughout the 19th century...
.
Federico Santa María was born in Valparaíso, the son of Juan Antonio Santa María Artigas and of Magdalena Carrera Aguirre. Although he was a member of two of the most respected and influential Chilean families of the 19th century, the Santa María
Domingo Santa María
Domingo Santa María González was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1881 and 1886.-Early life:...
and the Carrera
Carrera family
The Carrera family of Chile became politically influential during the colonial period, and played a significant role in Chilean Independence. They remained politically important throughout the 19th century...
families, he made his huge fortune in the sugar markets of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, in which he arrived when he was very young.
His importance in the sugar market was considerable: he became a major power in the French economy. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he closed down all his businesses, declaring that he did not want to profit from war. He also supported the French Army, donating clothes and weapons for an entire regiment.
Because he had no descendants, he gave his entire fortune to his hometown Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
for the founding of a technical and engineering school. The result of his legacy was the Federico Santa María Technical University.
He was a distant relative of famous Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...
.