José Ignacio Zenteno
Encyclopedia
José Ignacio Zenteno del Pozo y Silva (July 28, 1786 - July 16, 1847), was a Chile
an soldier, politician and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.
Zenteno was born in Santiago
, the son of Antonio Zenteno y Bustamante and of Victoria del Pozo y Silva. He completed his studies at the Colegio Carolino, and took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning. In 1814, he became the secretary of Supreme Director Francisco de la Lastra
, and was forced after the defeat of Rancagua, together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza
, Argentina
, where, soon after his arrival, he was appointed secretary of the treasury of that province. There he befriended General José de San Martín
, of whom became one of his principal assessors.
He formed part of the liberating army of Chile, and made the campaigns of 1817 and 1818, taking part in the battles of Cancha Rayada and Maipu
. He was named Governor of Valparaíso and when General Bernardo O'Higgins
was elected Supreme Director, he appointed Zenteno as Secretary of War and Navy
where he distinguished himself by his activity. The government entrusted him with the formation of the First Chilean Navy Squadron
, and he laid the foundation of the Chilean Navy which, under Admiral Lord Cochrane
, obtained such glorious results. He created the first course of ship-ensigns. In 1822, after retiring from the ministry of war, he was appointed political and military governor of Valparaiso, and promoted to brigadier.
In 1831 he was appointed inspector-general of the army, and from 1833 till 1846 he filled several important offices in the war department, and was also a member of the supreme council of war, the Society of agriculture, and was several times elected to congress representing Santiago and later, Victoria, and serving as vice-president of the chamber of deputies. He was one of the founders and first editor of the El Mercurio
of Valparaíso, taught law at the Universidad de Chile and was a member of the martial court (military tribunal). He died in Santiago at the age of 61.
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 soldier, politician and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.
Zenteno was born in 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...
, the son of Antonio Zenteno y Bustamante and of Victoria del Pozo y Silva. He completed his studies at the Colegio Carolino, and took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning. In 1814, he became the secretary of Supreme Director Francisco de la Lastra
Francisco de la Lastra
General Francisco de la Lastra y de la Sotta was a Chilean military officer and the first Supreme Director of Chile .-Biography:...
, and was forced after the defeat of Rancagua, together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where, soon after his arrival, he was appointed secretary of the treasury of that province. There he befriended General José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, of whom became one of his principal assessors.
He formed part of the liberating army of Chile, and made the campaigns of 1817 and 1818, taking part in the battles of Cancha Rayada and Maipu
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile on April 5, 1818 between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence...
. He was named Governor of Valparaíso and when General Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
was elected Supreme Director, he appointed Zenteno as Secretary of War and Navy
Ministry of National Defense (Chile)
The Ministry of National Defense is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of "maintaining the independence and sovereignty" of Chile. It is also charged with planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing the defense policies formulated by the President of...
where he distinguished himself by his activity. The government entrusted him with the formation of the First Chilean Navy Squadron
First Chilean Navy Squadron
The First Chilean Navy Squadron was the naval force that terminated Spanish colonial rule on the south-west coast of America and protagonaized the most important naval actions in the Latin American wars of independence...
, and he laid the foundation of the Chilean Navy which, under Admiral Lord Cochrane
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
, obtained such glorious results. He created the first course of ship-ensigns. In 1822, after retiring from the ministry of war, he was appointed political and military governor of Valparaiso, and promoted to brigadier.
In 1831 he was appointed inspector-general of the army, and from 1833 till 1846 he filled several important offices in the war department, and was also a member of the supreme council of war, the Society of agriculture, and was several times elected to congress representing Santiago and later, Victoria, and serving as vice-president of the chamber of deputies. He was one of the founders and first editor of the El Mercurio
El Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
of Valparaíso, taught law at the Universidad de Chile and was a member of the martial court (military tribunal). He died in Santiago at the age of 61.