Juan Guillermo More
Encyclopedia
Juan Guillermo More Ruiz, (February 27, 1833 - June 7, 1880), was a Peru
vian navy officer, who during his lifetime was considered as the man who "lost the War of the Pacific
". He was killed during the Battle of Arica
.
More (sometimes spelled Moore in some texts) was born in Lima
, the son of John More, a Scottish sailor and of Dolores Ruiz, a Peruvian lady. He joined the British Navy as an ensign
in 1854. Later he returned to Peru and was commissioned in the Peruvian Navy
. He served in the frigates Apurímac
, Izcuchaca and Huaraz, as well as the Guise and the pontoon Iquique.
In 1866, during the Chincha Islands War
, he was appointed commander of the corvette
Unión
. A few months later, Captain
More took a Peruvian Navy
crew to the United States
to bring the ironclad Atahualpa
to Peru
. The monitor sailed from New Orleans, La.
in early January 1869 arriving in Peru in June 1870. As a reward, he was appointed as commander of the frigate Independencia
and in 1877, General Commander of the Southern Fleet. As such he directed the actions to recapture the monitor Huáscar
which had been captured by Nicolás de Piérola
and had rebelled against the central government.
During the War of the Pacific
between Chile
and Peru
, he was appointed commander of the strongest unit of the Peruvian Navy, the armoured frigate
Independencia. As such, he participated in the Battle of Punta Gruesa
, on May 21, 1879, where his ship was defeated and sunk by the Chile
an schooner Covadonga
, commanded by Captain Carlos Condell
. He was rescued from his sinking ship, imprisoned in Arica
and court martialled by his own comrades. He was dismissed from the navy and forbidden to ever wear his uniform again. He decided to continue the war as a simple civilian, in order to regain his lost honor. During the siege of Arica, he was in charge of the batteries of the Cape, where he was killed during the Battle of Arica
.
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....
vian navy officer, who during his lifetime was considered as the man who "lost 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...
". He was killed during the Battle of Arica
Battle of Arica
The Battle of Arica, also known as Assault and Capture of Arica Cape, was a battle in the War of the Pacific. It was fought on 7 June 1880, between the forces of Chile and Peru....
.
More (sometimes spelled Moore in some texts) was born in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, the son of John More, a Scottish sailor and of Dolores Ruiz, a Peruvian lady. He joined the British Navy as an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in 1854. Later he returned to Peru and was commissioned in the Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
. He served in the frigates Apurímac
Apurímac
Apurímac is the name of:*Apurímac River - a river in the south-eastern parts of central Perú*Apurímac Region - a region in the south-eastern parts of central Perú*Apurimac - an album by the German cross-cultural new age band Cusco....
, Izcuchaca and Huaraz, as well as the Guise and the pontoon Iquique.
In 1866, during the Chincha Islands War
Chincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile from 1864 to 1866, that began with Spain's seizure of the guano-rich Chincha Islands, part of a series of attempts by Isabel II of Spain to reassert her country's lost...
, he was appointed commander of the corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
Unión
Unión
- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
. A few months later, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
More took a Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
crew to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to bring the ironclad Atahualpa
USS Catawba (1864)
USS Catawba was a Canonicus-class monitor built for the American Civil War; but completed too late to see action in that conflict. To help finance the Reconstruction, Catawba was sold to Peru.-Construction and sale:...
to 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....
. The monitor sailed from New Orleans, La.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in early January 1869 arriving in Peru in June 1870. As a reward, he was appointed as commander of the frigate Independencia
Independencia
-Places:*Independencia, Chile*Independencia Province, Dominican Republic*Independencia, Chiapas, Mexico*Independencia, Guadalajara, Mexico*Independencia, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico*Independencia, Paraguay...
and in 1877, General Commander of the Southern Fleet. As such he directed the actions to recapture the monitor Huáscar
Huáscar (ship)
Huáscar is a 19th century small armoured turret ship of a type similar to a monitor. She was built in Britain for Peru and played a significant role in the battle of Pacocha and the War of the Pacific against Chile before being captured and commissioned with the Chilean Navy. Today she is one of...
which had been captured by Nicolás de Piérola
Nicolás de Piérola
H.E. Don Jose Nicolás Baltasar Fernández de Piérola y Villena was a prominent Peruvian politician, the Finance Minister and twice President of the Republic of Peru .-Early years:Nicolás de Piérola was born and educated in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa...
and had rebelled against the central government.
During 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
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...
and 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....
, he was appointed commander of the strongest unit of the Peruvian Navy, the armoured frigate
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
Independencia. As such, he participated in the Battle of Punta Gruesa
Battle of Punta Gruesa
The Battle of Punta Gruesa took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. This may be labelled as the second part of the Naval Battle of Iquique, although it is described in many sources as a separate battle.-Context:...
, on May 21, 1879, where his ship was defeated and sunk by the Chile
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 schooner Covadonga
Covadonga (ship)
The schooner Virgen de Covadonga was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War and the War of the Pacific, under Spanish and Chilean flags. She was launched in 1859...
, commanded by Captain Carlos Condell
Carlos Condell
Carlos Arnaldo Condell De La Haza was a prominent Chilean naval officer and hero of the Battle of Punta Gruesa during the start of the War of the Pacific....
. He was rescued from his sinking ship, imprisoned in Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
and court martialled by his own comrades. He was dismissed from the navy and forbidden to ever wear his uniform again. He decided to continue the war as a simple civilian, in order to regain his lost honor. During the siege of Arica, he was in charge of the batteries of the Cape, where he was killed during the Battle of Arica
Battle of Arica
The Battle of Arica, also known as Assault and Capture of Arica Cape, was a battle in the War of the Pacific. It was fought on 7 June 1880, between the forces of Chile and Peru....
.