Biography of Tomás de la Barra Fontecilla

Tomás de la Barra Fontecilla graduated PhD from the University in 1924. He was born in Valparaíso, Chile, son of Tomás de la Barra Lira, a statesman and civil servant.

De la Barra had a degree in Political Science and Law from the University of Chile, where he became Professor of Political Economy. He was also a practicing advocate, and had published on consular legislation in Chile (1918).

In December 1917, De la Barra was appointed Chilean Consul at Glasgow. He enrolled at the University as a research student of Economics in 1920, aged 47, with the subject Aspect of Industrial organization: treated comparatively as to its pre-war form in France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States and as to its post-war form. De La Barra graduated PhD on 22 November 1924 with a thesis entitled Some aspects of industrial organization. Continuing in the Diplomatic Service, he wrote an article on public eduction in Scotland in 1927, before being appointed Consul-General of Chile at London in 1931.

His daughter, Olga de la Barra Bordali, had worked as a secretary to her father, covering his consular service in his absences, and was appointed Vice-Consul of Chile at Glasgow from 1927, and later as Consul-attaché of Chile in London (1930). Her appointment as Consul came at a time when posts in the Diplomatic or Consular Services of the UK were reserved for men, and hence newspapers around the world reported on her appointment as Vice-Consul at Glasgow.

Sources

Other Online Resources

• A.M.RR.EE. de Chile, F. Histórico, V. 705, Cónsules de Chile
• Genealogía de la Familia León
• The Edinburgh Gazette 30 July 1918, p.2751
• The London Gazette, 29 June 1928, p.4410
• Women as Diplomats, The Glasgow Herald, 29 March 1949, p.3

Archival Materials

• DC 233/2/10/7/8 Admission of women to the Diplomatic and Consular Services: Correspondence between Olga de la Barra, Consul-attache for Chile in London and Miss Melville (1934)
• DC183/11/95 General Council Register 1930
• R1/11/1 PhD 1895-1965

Summary

Tomás de la Barra Fontecilla
Born 27 January 1874.
GU Degree: PhD, 1924; Social Sciences,
University Link: Alumnus, Graduate, Researcher
Occupation categories: diplomats; lawyers
English snippet: The first international student to graduate PhD from the University of Glasgow
Record last updated: 25th Feb 2013

Country Associations

Chile, Valparaíso
Place of Birth

England, London

Scotland, Glasgow

University Connections

University Roles

• Alumnus
• Graduate
• Researcher

Images

Tomás de la Barra, PhD thesis 1924