Manuel Magalhaes

Manuel Josías Eduardo Magalhaes Medling (14 August 1911 – 1 November 1996) was a Chilean dentist and politician affiliated with the Radical Party.

He served as a Deputy for Atacama Province for five consecutive terms between 1945 and 1965, and also held the post of mayor of Vallenar for 16 years.

In addition to his parliamentary work, he was active in civic life as a member of the fire brigade and the Masonic Order. In recognition of his contributions to the Huasco Province, the Hospital of Huasco was inaugurated in 1967 under his name.

He was born in Inca de Oro, on 14 August 1911, the son of Eduardo Eusebio Magalhaes Faull and Katie Medling Bennet. He studied at the Liceo of Copiapó and later entered the University of Chile, graduating as a dental surgeon on 10 June 1936 with the thesis «Histopathological treatment with quicklime».

Magalhaes began his professional career working as a dentist in the hospital of Vallenar and in the State Railways Company (EFE). He married Norma Chaves, with whom he had one son, Manuel Eugenio Magalhaes Chaves.

He joined the Radical Party and was elected mayor of Vallenar, holding that office for 16 years. He was elected Deputy for Atacama Province in five successive terms, serving from 1945 to 1965.

He was also a supporter of the presidential campaigns of Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Juan Antonio Ríos and Gabriel González Videla. Beyond politics, he participated actively in the fire brigade and the Masonic Order, where he attained high ranks within the Grand Lodge of Chile.

On 16 March 1967, the Manuel Magalhaes Medling Hospital was inaugurated in Huasco, named in his honor.

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