Juan Williams Rebolledo
Encyclopedia
Juan Williams Rebolledo (Curacaví, Melipilla Province
, 1825 – Santiago, June 24, 1910) was a Chile
an rear admiral
who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy at the beginning of the War of the Pacific
.
, an English navy officer, and of the Chilean lady Micaela Rebolledo. His father came to Chile to serve in its recently formed navy under the command of Lord Cochrane
.
He joined the navy in 1844. After rising quite fast through the ranks, in 1855 he was appointed General Commandant of the Arsenals and Maritime Governor of Atacama, then the northernmost province of Chile.
, which he sailed during the Chincha Islands War
against Spain. During this war he became a national hero when he managed to capture the Spanish schooner Covadonga at the Naval Battle of Papudo
, on November 26, 1865. For years thereafter, he trained all the officers that later were to participate in the War of the Pacific
, and also was in charge of the complete reorganization and modernization of the Chilean navy.
In 1867, he was elected a Deputy to the Chilean Congress, representing the port of Valparaíso
, and six years later he became a city councillor for the same. In 1874 he was appointed General Commandant of the Navy.
against Peru
and Bolivia
, he was named commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy. The government plan was to attack the Peruvian navy immediately, as it was undergoing repairs in the port of Callao
and was thus virtually defenseless. He completely opposed this course of action, insisting on a blockade of the southern Peruvian ports in order to impede the export of nitrates, then the main source of revenues for the Peruvian government. This course of action gave a much needed respite to the war preparations of Peru, and by the time Williams decided that the blockade was not working fast enough to suit the needs of the war, the Peruvian navy was ready and at sea.
At the end of April, 1879, Williams finally decided to attack Callao. He left behind his two oldest and weakest ships to blockade the port of Iquique
, since they could not keep up the pace with the rest of the fleet. These turned out to be the "Esmeralda
" and the "Covadonga
", who went on to battle the Peruvian navy's first division on May 21 during the Naval Battle of Iquique
and the Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa
. The loss of the "Esmeralda" and the triumph of the "Covadonga" made public opinion forget for the time being the near disaster that his indecision had caused and the general failure of his war plans.
At the end, his constant infighting with Rafael Sotomayor, Chilean minister of war, and with General Justo Arteaga, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, together with his inability to capture the "Huascar
", forced him to resign on August, 1879. He was then replaced by Captain Galvarino Riveros.
of 1891, he resigned and chose to remain loyal to President José Manuel Balmaceda
.
Two years before his death he was promoted, by a special act of the Chilean Congress, to Rear-Admiral. He died in Santiago on June 24, 1910.
Melipilla Province
Melipilla Province is one of six provinces in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The provincial capital is the city of Melipilla.-Administration:...
, 1825 – Santiago, June 24, 1910) was a 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 rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy at the beginning of 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...
.
Early life
Williams was the son of John Williams WilsonJohn Williams Wilson
John Williams Wilson was an English sailor born in Bristol to a family with a long seafaring tradition. After acquiring his first sailing experience with his father, he traveled to South America, entering the Chilean Navy in 1824 and rising to the rank of lieutenant.Having participated in early...
, an English navy officer, and of the Chilean lady Micaela Rebolledo. His father came to Chile to serve in its recently formed navy under the command of 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....
.
He joined the navy in 1844. After rising quite fast through the ranks, in 1855 he was appointed General Commandant of the Arsenals and Maritime Governor of Atacama, then the northernmost province of Chile.
Chincha Islands War years
In 1865, he became commandant of the EsmeraldaEsmeralda (1855)
The Esmeralda launched in 1855, was a wooden steam corvette sunk during the War of the Pacific as was set against superior forces, fought until sunk with colors flying on 21 May 1879 at the Battle of Iquique...
, which he sailed 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...
against Spain. During this war he became a national hero when he managed to capture the Spanish schooner Covadonga at the Naval Battle of Papudo
Battle of Papudo
The Naval Battle of Papudo was a naval engagement fought between Spanish and Chilean forces on November 26, 1865, during the Chincha Islands War...
, on November 26, 1865. For years thereafter, he trained all the officers that later were to participate in 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...
, and also was in charge of the complete reorganization and modernization of the Chilean navy.
In 1867, he was elected a Deputy to the Chilean Congress, representing the port of Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, and six years later he became a city councillor for the same. In 1874 he was appointed General Commandant of the Navy.
War of the Pacific
In 1879, at the beginning of the War of the PacificWar 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...
against 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...
, he was named commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy. The government plan was to attack the Peruvian navy immediately, as it was undergoing repairs in the port of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
and was thus virtually defenseless. He completely opposed this course of action, insisting on a blockade of the southern Peruvian ports in order to impede the export of nitrates, then the main source of revenues for the Peruvian government. This course of action gave a much needed respite to the war preparations of Peru, and by the time Williams decided that the blockade was not working fast enough to suit the needs of the war, the Peruvian navy was ready and at sea.
At the end of April, 1879, Williams finally decided to attack Callao. He left behind his two oldest and weakest ships to blockade the port of Iquique
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
, since they could not keep up the pace with the rest of the fleet. These turned out to be the "Esmeralda
Esmeralda (1791)
The Spanish Esmeralda was a 44 gun frigate built in Port Mahón, Balearic Islands in 1791. The First Chilean Navy Squadron under the command of Thomas Cochrane captured her in the night from 5 to 6 November 1820. She was renamed Valdivia in Chilean service...
" and the "Covadonga
Covadonga
Covadonga is a village and one of 11 parishes in Cangas de Onís, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northwestern Spain...
", who went on to battle the Peruvian navy's first division on May 21 during the Naval Battle of Iquique
Battle of Iquique
The Battle of Iquique was a confrontation that occurred on May 21, 1879, during the naval stage of the War of the Pacific, a conflict between Chile and Peru and Bolivia. The battle took place off the, by then, Peruvian port of Iquique...
and the Naval 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:...
. The loss of the "Esmeralda" and the triumph of the "Covadonga" made public opinion forget for the time being the near disaster that his indecision had caused and the general failure of his war plans.
At the end, his constant infighting with Rafael Sotomayor, Chilean minister of war, and with General Justo Arteaga, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, together with his inability to capture the "Huascar
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...
", forced him to resign on August, 1879. He was then replaced by Captain Galvarino Riveros.
Later life
After being appointed to several positions within the navy, in 1890 he rose to Commander General. Nonetheless, after the rebellion of the Chilean Navy that marked the start of the Chilean Civil WarChilean Civil War
The Chilean Civil War of 1891 was an armed conflict between forces supporting Congress and forces supporting the sitting President, José Manuel Balmaceda. The war saw a confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Chilean Navy, which had sided with the president and the congress, respectively...
of 1891, he resigned and chose to remain loyal to President José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Balmaceda
José Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández was the 11th President of Chile from September 18, 1886 to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile...
.
Two years before his death he was promoted, by a special act of the Chilean Congress, to Rear-Admiral. He died in Santiago on June 24, 1910.