Alejandro Gorostiaga
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Gorostiaga Orrego (May 12, 1840 - October 30, 1912), was a Chile
an military officer born in La Serena. He joined the Escuela Militar de Chile in 1857 till his retirement in 1878. Alejandro Gorostiaga was of Basque
descent.
In 1879, colonel Gorostiaga joined the Chilean Army
due to the War of the Pacific
, between Chile, Peru
and Bolivia
. In May of these year, Alejandro Gorostiaga was named commandant of the civic battalion Coquimbo
Nº1.
Participated in the "Asalto y Toma de Pisagua". But the most important participation of this Chilean military was the Battle of Huamachuco
, on July 10 of 1883 when Andrés Cáceres' Peruvian forces were defeated.
Alejandro Gorostiaga died in 1912, Santiago
.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an military officer born in La Serena. He joined the Escuela Militar de Chile in 1857 till his retirement in 1878. Alejandro Gorostiaga was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent.
In 1879, colonel Gorostiaga joined the Chilean Army
Chilean Army
The Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
due to the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
, between Chile, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. In May of these year, Alejandro Gorostiaga was named commandant of the civic battalion Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
Nº1.
Participated in the "Asalto y Toma de Pisagua". But the most important participation of this Chilean military was the Battle of Huamachuco
Battle of Huamachuco
The Battle of Huamachuco was fought on July 10, 1883, and it was the last major battle of the War of the Pacific. The Chilean soldiers led by Colonel Alejandro Gorostiaga decisively defeated the Peruvian army commanded by General Andrés Avelino Cáceres near the town of Huamachuco...
, on July 10 of 1883 when Andrés Cáceres' Peruvian forces were defeated.
Alejandro Gorostiaga died in 1912, Santiago
Santiago, 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...
.