Santiago Severín Espina (1876 – 17 March 1920) was a Chilean politician, merchant and philanthropist who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.
A member of the National Party, he represented Valparaíso and Casablanca from 1912 to 1915. During his term, he served as a member of the Permanent Commission of Finance.
Severín was born in Valparaíso in 1876, the son of Pedro Severín Henriksen, a Danish naval officer who served Chile, and Carmen Espina Ramos. He was educated at the Seminario de Valparaíso and, after completing his humanities studies, entered the commercial sector in Valparaíso.
He became a prominent businessman in the city and served as a director or adviser in several financial, industrial and charitable institutions. He was a councillor of Banco Nacional and the Compañía Salitrera de Antofagasta, sub-administrator of the Hospital San Agustín, and a director of Chilena Consolidada, Azucarera de Chiclayo and the Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia.
In 1910, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of Chilean independence, Severín donated to the city of Valparaíso the building of a public library, financing its construction and maintenance. The institution became known as the Santiago Severín Library.
Severín died in Valparaíso on 17 March 1920.
References
External links BCN Profile