Humberto Fuenzalida, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Humberto Fuenzalida

director, National Museum of Natural History (1948-1964)

Date of Birth: 27-Mar-1904

Place of Birth: Curicó, Maule Region, Chile

Date of Death: 24-Feb-1966

Profession: naturalist, geologist, geographer, paleontologist, Chilean National Museum of Natural History, volcanologist, museum director

Nationality: Chile

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Humberto Fuenzalida Villegas (1904–1966) was a Chilean geologist, paleontologist and geographer.
Fuenzalida headed in turn the geography and geology departments of the University of Chile, being also founder of Sociedad Geológica de Chile, a professional society grouping Chile's geologists.
In 1938 he took charge of the geological and paleontological collection of Chilean National Museum of Natural History by request of Ricardo E.
Latcham.
In 1948 he became director of the museum holding that post until 1964 when he was succeeded by Grete Mostny.
Fuenzalida championed the establishment of a geology degree in the University of Chile, leading a successful effort in 1961.In the 1926–1930 period Fuenzalida studied in Sorbonne, Paris with teachers such as Emmanuel de Martonne, Émile Haug and León Lyteaud.
He died in 1966 after a long period of illness.