Luis Altamirano
Encyclopedia
Division General Luis Altamirano Talavera (July 5, 1867 – July 25, 1938) was a Chile
an military officer, minister, Vice President of the Republic and finally President of the Government Junta
of Chile
between 1924 and 1925.
He was born in Concepción
on the son of Eulogio Altamirano Araceda and Antonia Adelina Talavera Appleby. He studied Law and started a career in the ministry of Justice. In 1891, during the Chilean Civil War
, he joined the congressional army as an artillery
captain. He was a Lieutenant Colonel by the end of it, a year later. After the end of revolution he left the army, only to return in 1897. The year after, he was named commander of Regiment Nº3 of artillery
. In 1908 was promoted to full Colonel, and named Under-Chief of General staff. In 1911, he was sent as military attaché
to the Chilean embassy in Berlin
. In 1912, was promoted to Brigadier General, and named Inspector General of artillery, and Army Chief of staff. In 1919 is promoted to Division General, and named Commander of the II Division. In 1922, was named Army Inspector General, the highest position in the Army at the time. As such he was in charge of the Chilean delegation to the swearing-in of a new president of Argentina
. That year he also was named Minister of War and Navy, by President Arturo Alessandri
.
On September 5, 1924, and as a consequence of the episode known as the saber-noise
, a group of young military officers, led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
and Major Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
, demanded of President Arturo Alessandri
the dismissal of three of his ministers, including the minister of War; the enactment of a labor code, the passage of an income tax law
, and the improvement of the military salaries. Alessandri had no option but to appoint General Altamirano, then head of the Army, as Interior Minister to head a new cabinet. On September 8, General Altamirano appeared in front of Congress to demand the passage of eight laws, including Alessandri's labor code and the income tax proposal. Congress didn't dare to protest, and the laws were passed in a matter of hours.
At that point, Alessandri felt that he had become just a pawn of the military and on September 9, he resigned, and requested asylum at the US Embassy. General Altamirano became Vice President (a position reserved, in the absence of a president, to the Interior Minister, according to the Chilean constitution.) Congress refused to accept Alessandri's resignation, and instead granted him a six-months constitutional leave of absence. Alessandri left the country immediately for Italy.
On September 11, General Altamirano established a military Junta to rule the country, together with Vice-Admiral Francisco Nef
and General Juan Pablo Bennett
, retaining the position of President. He assumed dictatorial powers and proceeded to close Congress. During his conservative rule, he tried several measures to control the economic crisis and to reform the local bureaucracy. Nonetheless, he lost the confidence of the "military committee" who had elevated him to power, and was deposed and arrested by another military coup on January 23, 1925. On February 6, 1925 he retired from active duty and died in Santiago
in 1938.
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, minister, Vice President of the Republic and finally President of the Government Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1924)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri...
of 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...
between 1924 and 1925.
He was born in Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
on the son of Eulogio Altamirano Araceda and Antonia Adelina Talavera Appleby. He studied Law and started a career in the ministry of Justice. In 1891, during the Chilean Civil War
Chilean 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...
, he joined the congressional army as an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
captain. He was a Lieutenant Colonel by the end of it, a year later. After the end of revolution he left the army, only to return in 1897. The year after, he was named commander of Regiment Nº3 of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. In 1908 was promoted to full Colonel, and named Under-Chief of General staff. In 1911, he was sent as military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to the Chilean embassy in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1912, was promoted to Brigadier General, and named Inspector General of artillery, and Army Chief of staff. In 1919 is promoted to Division General, and named Commander of the II Division. In 1922, was named Army Inspector General, the highest position in the Army at the time. As such he was in charge of the Chilean delegation to the swearing-in of a new president of 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...
. That year he also was named Minister of War and Navy, by President Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
.
On September 5, 1924, and as a consequence of the episode known as the saber-noise
Saber noise
Saber-noise or saber-rattling may be used to refer to a historical incident in Chilean history that took place on September 3, 1924, when a group of young military officers protested against the political class and the postponement of social measures by rattling their sabers within their scabbards...
, a group of young military officers, led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
and Major Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
, demanded of President Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
the dismissal of three of his ministers, including the minister of War; the enactment of a labor code, the passage of an income tax law
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, and the improvement of the military salaries. Alessandri had no option but to appoint General Altamirano, then head of the Army, as Interior Minister to head a new cabinet. On September 8, General Altamirano appeared in front of Congress to demand the passage of eight laws, including Alessandri's labor code and the income tax proposal. Congress didn't dare to protest, and the laws were passed in a matter of hours.
At that point, Alessandri felt that he had become just a pawn of the military and on September 9, he resigned, and requested asylum at the US Embassy. General Altamirano became Vice President (a position reserved, in the absence of a president, to the Interior Minister, according to the Chilean constitution.) Congress refused to accept Alessandri's resignation, and instead granted him a six-months constitutional leave of absence. Alessandri left the country immediately for Italy.
On September 11, General Altamirano established a military Junta to rule the country, together with Vice-Admiral Francisco Nef
Francisco Nef
Vice Admiral Francisco Nef Jara was a Chilean naval officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925....
and General Juan Pablo Bennett
Juan Pablo Bennett
Division General Juan Pablo Bennett Argandoña was a Chilean military officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile between 1924 and 1925....
, retaining the position of President. He assumed dictatorial powers and proceeded to close Congress. During his conservative rule, he tried several measures to control the economic crisis and to reform the local bureaucracy. Nonetheless, he lost the confidence of the "military committee" who had elevated him to power, and was deposed and arrested by another military coup on January 23, 1925. On February 6, 1925 he retired from active duty and died 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...
in 1938.