Maria del Pilar Careaga Basabe (26 October 1908 – 10 June 1993) was a Spanish politician and industrial engineer. She was the first woman to be mayor of Bilbao.[1]
Early life and education
Careaga was born in Madrid, the daughter of Pedro González de Careaga y Quintana, count of Cadagua, and Concepción Basabe y Zubiría.[2] She studied surveying, and then completed her studies in industrial engineering at the Technical University of Madrid, becoming the first woman engineer in Spain. She also became the first woman in Spain to drive a train.[3]
In 1964, she was appointed to the provincial council for the Movimiento Nacional, serving as the first woman deputy for Biscay from 1964 to 1969.[1] She served as mayor of Bilbao from 1969 to 1977.[3]
On 25 March 1979 Careaga was shot six times by ETA whilst seated with her husband in her car driving to church in Guecho.[5] This was the first time the organisation attempted to assassinate a woman. She survived but retired from public life.[6][7]
Personal life
In 1943, Careaga married Enrique Lequerica Erquiza, an engineer who was the brother of José Félix de Lequerica y Erquiza.[1] She died in Madrid at the age of 84.[1]