Hortensia Bussi
Encyclopedia
Mercedes Hortensia Bussi Soto de Allende (July 22, 1914 – June 18, 2009) was the widow of Chilean President
Salvador Allende
. She was married to him from 1940 until he was deposed and assassinated in 1973, serving as First Lady of Chile from 1970 to 1973. Her daughters are Beatriz
, Isabel and Carmen Paz.
Bussi Soto, nicknamed "Tencha", was born in Valparaíso
to a well-off family. She was the daughter of Ciro Bussi, an officer in the country's merchant marine. She graduated from the University of Chile as a teacher of History and Geography and worked as a librarian
at the National Statistics Office.
She met her future husband in the aftermath of the 1939 Chillán earthquake
, where they were involved in the campaign for those made homeless by the earthquake. They married a year later, in 1940. Allende then became minister of health in the Popular Front
government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda
, at the start of his political career.
After the military coup which overthrew her husband, Bussi went into exile in Mexico. She campaigned against the regime of Augusto Pinochet
.
, during a morning nap.
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
. She was married to him from 1940 until he was deposed and assassinated in 1973, serving as First Lady of Chile from 1970 to 1973. Her daughters are Beatriz
Beatriz Allende
Beatriz Allende Bussi was a Chilean Socialist politician and revolutionary. She was the daughter of former president of Chile Salvador Allende Gossens, and his wife, Hortensia Bussi. She was of Basque, Belgian and Italian descent.She married Cuban diplomat Luis Fernandez de Oña...
, Isabel and Carmen Paz.
Bussi Soto, nicknamed "Tencha", was born in 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...
to a well-off family. She was the daughter of Ciro Bussi, an officer in the country's merchant marine. She graduated from the University of Chile as a teacher of History and Geography and worked as a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
at the National Statistics Office.
She met her future husband in the aftermath of the 1939 Chillán earthquake
1939 Chillán earthquake
The 1939 Chillán earthquake was a major earthquake in south-central Chile. It is currently the single earthquake that has caused the most deaths in Chile. The earthquake occurred on 24 January 1939 and had an intensity of 8.3 MS...
, where they were involved in the campaign for those made homeless by the earthquake. They married a year later, in 1940. Allende then became minister of health in the Popular Front
Popular Front (Chile)
The Popular Front in Chile was an electoral and political left-wing coalition from 1937 to February 1941, during the Presidential Republic Era...
government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda
Pedro Aguirre Cerda
Pedro Aguirre Cerda was a Chilean political figure. A member of the Radical Party, he was chosen as the Popular Front's candidate for the 1938 presidential election, and was triumphally elected. He governed Chile until his death in 1941...
, at the start of his political career.
After the military coup which overthrew her husband, Bussi went into exile in Mexico. She campaigned against the regime of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
.
Death
Bussi returned to Chile in 1990 after 17 years in exile and kept a quiet life. She died, aged 94, in 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...
, during a morning nap.
External links
- http://visualrian.com/images/item/2953
- http://www.24horas.cl/videos.aspx?id=5975
- Hortensia Bussi de Allende's obituary