Alessandri family

The Alessandri family is a Chilean political family of Italian descent. Its recorded Chilean origins are associated with Giuseppe Pietro Alessandri Tarzi, who arrived in the country in the early nineteenth century as a representative of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Over subsequent generations, the family became connected with public life through lawyers, engineers, physicians, businesspeople, academics, religious figures, and elected officials. The family’s most consequential political figure was Arturo Alessandri Palma, a lawyer who served as President of Chile in two non-consecutive periods, from 1920 to 1925 and again from 1932 to 1938. His career made the Alessandri name strongly associated with Chilean presidential politics and with the constitutional and institutional changes of the early twentieth century. His sons and other descendants continued the family’s public influence. Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez, a civil engineer and politician, served as President from 1958 to 1964, while Fernando and Eduardo Alessandri Rodríguez pursued legal and political careers. Arturo Alessandri Rodríguez became a noted academic and civil-law scholar, and Arturo Alessandri Besa later served as a lawyer and politician. Later generations maintained a presence in elected office, municipal government, business, agriculture, education, social services, and cultural production. Gustavo Alessandri Valdés combined legal, industrial, agricultural, and political work, while Gustavo Alessandri Balmaceda and Jorge Alessandri Vergara became involved in business and politics. Felipe Alessandri Vergara held senior municipal offices, serving as mayor of Santiago from 2016 to 2021 and as mayor of Lo Barnechea for the 2024–2028 term. The broader family network also includes Rosa Devés Alessandri, a biochemist, academic, and rector of the University of Chile from 2022; Hernán Alessandri Morandé, a Schoenstatt priest and founder of the María Ayuda charitable organization; and public figures connected through marriage or descent, including politicians, filmmakers, actors, producers, and activists. Unlike a commercial brand, the Alessandri family is a dynastic and historical name rather than a company selling standardized products. Its significance derives from the continuity of public service and elite social networks across generations, especially the family’s repeated participation in Chilean presidential, parliamentary, municipal, academic, and civic institutions. The family remains active in Chilean public and cultural life through descendants holding political, educational, artistic, and professional roles.

The Alessandri family’s Chilean history begins with Giuseppe Pietro Alessandri Tarzi, an Italian associated with the Kingdom of Sardinia who arrived in Chile in the early 1800s. The family gradually established itself in Chilean society, and later generations entered professional and political life. José Pedro Alessandri, an engineer, businessperson, and politician, represents an early documented example of the family’s participation in both commerce and public affairs. The family became nationally prominent through Arturo Alessandri Palma. A lawyer and politician, he served as President of Chile from 1920 to 1925 and again from 1932 to 1938. His presidential career established the Alessandri surname as one of the enduring names in Chilean political history. His descendants continued in law, scholarship, medicine, public administration, and politics. Arturo Alessandri Rodríguez became a legal academic and civil-law scholar, while Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez, a civil engineer, later served as president from 1958 to 1964. Their brothers Fernando and Eduardo Alessandri Rodríguez also pursued legal and political careers, and Hernán Alessandri Rodríguez worked as a physician. The family’s influence extended beyond the presidency. Descendants and relatives participated in municipal government, industry, agriculture, education, charitable work, and professional associations. Gustavo Alessandri Valdés was active as a lawyer, industrialist, agricultural businessperson, and politician. His descendants, including Gustavo Alessandri Balmaceda, continued involvement in business and elected politics. Felipe Alessandri Vergara served as mayor of Santiago between 2016 and 2021 and subsequently became mayor of Lo Barnechea for the 2024–2028 period. Jorge Alessandri Vergara also pursued a legal and political career. Other branches of the family became prominent in academic, religious, and cultural fields. Hernán Alessandri Morandé founded the María Ayuda charitable organization and was associated with the Schoenstatt movement. Rosa Devés Alessandri became a biochemist, educator, and rector of the University of Chile in 2022. Through marriage and descent, the wider family network includes political figures, a filmmaker, producers, actors, and other public personalities. The family’s historical importance therefore rests not on a single organization or commercial enterprise, but on the repeated appearance of its members in Chilean institutional and cultural life over roughly two centuries.

• 2024

  Felipe Alessandri Vergara becomes mayor of Lo Barnechea

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Felipe Alessandri Vergara begins the 2024–2028 term as mayor of the Municipality of Lo Barnechea.

• 2022

  Rosa Devés Alessandri becomes rector of the University of Chile

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Rosa Devés Alessandri begins serving as rector of the University of Chile, extending the family’s public role into higher education leadership.

• 1958

  Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez becomes president

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez begins serving as President of Chile, holding office from 1958 to 1964.

• 1932

  Arturo Alessandri Palma returns to the presidency

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Arturo Alessandri Palma begins his second, non-consecutive presidential term, which lasts until 1938.

• 1920

  Arturo Alessandri Palma begins his first presidency

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Arturo Alessandri Palma begins his first term as President of Chile, serving from 1920 to 1925.

• 1864

  Birth of José Pedro Alessandri

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  José Pedro Alessandri is born. He later becomes an engineer, businessperson, and politician, illustrating the family’s early expansion into professional and public life.

• 1800

  Giuseppe Pietro Alessandri Tarzi arrives in Chile

  [1]Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org

  Giuseppe Pietro Alessandri Tarzi, associated with the Kingdom of Sardinia, arrives in Chile in the early nineteenth century and becomes the identified founder of the Chilean Alessandri family.

A Chilean political and civic family identified with several generations of public officeholders, professionals, academics, businesspeople, and cultural figures.

1. 1Alessandri familyen.wikipedia.org