Patricio Aylwin

About

Chilean politician who was the 30th president of Chile. He was the first president to be elected after the absolute rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet. His election marked the Chilean transition to democracy in 1990. He lived to the old age of 97. 

Before Fame

He received his Bachelor's degree in Juridical and Social Sciences from the University of Chile, earning the highest honors. He served as a professor of administrative law, first at the University of Chile from 1946 to 1967, and also at the School of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile from 1952 to 1960. 

Trivia

He did much to reduce poverty and inequality during his time in office. Under his leadership, the number of Chileans living in poverty significantly decreased, with a United Nations report estimating that the percentage of the population living in poverty had fallen from around 40% of the population in 1989 to around 33% by 1993. 

Family Life

He was married to Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic. Together they had five children named Isabel, Miguel, José Antonio, Juan Francisco, and Mariana. 

Associated With

He became the first Chilean head of government to pay an official visit to Portugal in July 1992, and in return, former president of Portugal Mário Soares paid an official visit to Chile and met with him in July 1993.