Raúl Sáez
Encyclopedia
Raúl Sáez Sáez was a noted Chile
an engineer who also served as Minister of Finance in Chile in 1968.
. In 1925, his father was sent to France on a military mission and the whole family traveled there. In Paris, Saez enrolled in one of the traditional French Lycees, were he studied Mathematics and Philosophy. Back in Chile in 1931, he enrolled in the School of Engineering at Universidad de Chile in Santiago, where he soon reached the top of his class and eventually became the best student of the university.
Without leaving his job in Endesa, Saez joined CAP (Compania de Aceros del Pacifico, Chile's largest steel manufacturing company) between 1944 and 1947 and played important roles in CORFO (Chile's corporation for industrial development), IANSA (Chile's national sugar company) and ENTEL (Chile's telecommunications company), among others.
He has been called "Chile's greatest maker of works of progress in the second half of the 20th century".
He is also well-remembered for leading the effort to avert the overflowing of Riñihue Lake
in the aftermath of the devastating Great Chilean Earthquake
of 22 May 1960 (a huge undertaking which is known as the "Epic of the Riñihue" (see Riñihuazo
) and which at least one writer has called "Chile's finest hour").
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 engineer who also served as Minister of Finance in Chile in 1968.
Early life and education
Sáez was born in 1913 to a Chilean military officer who married his cousin. His first school years were spent in the Colegio Alemán (German School) of SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. In 1925, his father was sent to France on a military mission and the whole family traveled there. In Paris, Saez enrolled in one of the traditional French Lycees, were he studied Mathematics and Philosophy. Back in Chile in 1931, he enrolled in the School of Engineering at Universidad de Chile in Santiago, where he soon reached the top of his class and eventually became the best student of the university.
Professional life
His first project after graduation was the Electrification Plan for Chile, which would eventually lead to the foundation of Endesa (Chile's national electricity company). Saez actually joined Endesa in 1940 as Chief Engineer for Civil Engineering and eventually rose to the position of CEO of the company in 1961.Without leaving his job in Endesa, Saez joined CAP (Compania de Aceros del Pacifico, Chile's largest steel manufacturing company) between 1944 and 1947 and played important roles in CORFO (Chile's corporation for industrial development), IANSA (Chile's national sugar company) and ENTEL (Chile's telecommunications company), among others.
He has been called "Chile's greatest maker of works of progress in the second half of the 20th century".
He is also well-remembered for leading the effort to avert the overflowing of Riñihue Lake
Riñihue Lake
The Riñihue Lake is a lake of glacial origin in eastern Valdivia Province, southern Chile. It is surrounded by several mountains. The eastern side receives the waters of the Panguipulli Lake, by the Enco River its main contributor. It is the last of the Seven Lakes chain. In the west is it cut...
in the aftermath of the devastating Great Chilean Earthquake
Great Chilean Earthquake
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake or Great Chilean Earthquake of Sunday, 22 May 1960 is to date the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth, rating 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale...
of 22 May 1960 (a huge undertaking which is known as the "Epic of the Riñihue" (see Riñihuazo
Riñihuazo
The Riñihuazo is the name given to the damming of Riñihue Lake on 22 May 1960, after a landslide caused by the Great Chilean Earthquake blocked its outflow. According to the chronicler Mariño de Lobera a similar event occurred after the 1575 Valdivia earthquake.During the Great Chilean Earthquake,...
) and which at least one writer has called "Chile's finest hour").