Marcos Maturana
Encyclopedia
Marcos Maturana del Campo (c. 1802—August 29, 1871) was a Chile
an military and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation
.
Maturana was born in San Fernando
, the son of Manuel Jesús Maturana Guzmán and of Petronila del Campo. In 1818, (at the age of 16) he became a cadet of the Húsares de la Muerte under Manuel Rodríguez, and participated in the Battle of Maipú
, during the Chilean War of Independence. By 1820 he already was a second Lieutenant, and a member of the expedition to Peru
, where he fought in the siege of Callao
. Maturana was promoted to captain in 1824, and participated in the Chiloé campaigns of 1825 and 1826.
During the Chilean Civil War of 1829, he participated in the battles of Ochagavía and Lircay. In 1831 Maturana was promoted to Major and in 1834 to Lieutenant colonel. During the War of the Confederation
he fought at the battles of Portada de Guías (1838) and Yungay
(1839), and in the capture of Lima
. In 1847 he was promoted to Colonel and named Aide-de-camp
to President Manuel Bulnes
.
On April 20, 1851, during the Urriola mutiny, he successfully defended his barracks against the attack of a full regiment and decisively contributed to the restoration of the public order. Maturana participated in the Occupation of the Araucanía
during the later stages of the Arauco War
, was promoted to Brigade General in 1854 and Division General in 1865. In 1855 he was elected Deputy
for Santiago until 1858. President José Joaquín Pérez
named him Minister of War and Navy, a position he held between July 9, 1862 and January 4, 1865. In 1864 he was again elected a deputy and in 1866, he became the Senior General Officer (equivalent to Army Commander-in-chief) and a Councilor of State. In 1867 he was elected Senator and reelected in 1870, position he retained until his death.
He retired from the Chilean Army
in 1870, after 57 years, 4 months and 9 days of service and died in Santiago
the following year, at the age of 69.
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 and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
.
Maturana was born in San Fernando
San Fernando, Chile
San Fernando is the capital of the province of Colchagua, in central Chile, and the second most populated urban center of the O'Higgins Region. Located close to the Tinguiririca River in a fertile valley, San Fernando sits 1,112 feet above sea level...
, the son of Manuel Jesús Maturana Guzmán and of Petronila del Campo. In 1818, (at the age of 16) he became a cadet of the Húsares de la Muerte under Manuel Rodríguez, and participated in the Battle of Maipú
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...
, during the Chilean War of Independence. By 1820 he already was a second Lieutenant, and a member of the expedition 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....
, where he fought in the siege 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...
. Maturana was promoted to captain in 1824, and participated in the Chiloé campaigns of 1825 and 1826.
During the Chilean Civil War of 1829, he participated in the battles of Ochagavía and Lircay. In 1831 Maturana was promoted to Major and in 1834 to Lieutenant colonel. During the War of the Confederation
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
he fought at the battles of Portada de Guías (1838) and Yungay
Battle of Yungay
The Battle of Yungay effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian Confederation created by Bolivian Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz in 1836...
(1839), and in the capture of 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...
. In 1847 he was promoted to Colonel and named Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to President Manuel Bulnes
Manuel Bulnes
-Sources:* Juan B. Alberdi, Biografia de general Bulnes...
.
On April 20, 1851, during the Urriola mutiny, he successfully defended his barracks against the attack of a full regiment and decisively contributed to the restoration of the public order. Maturana participated in the Occupation of the Araucanía
Occupation of the Araucanía
The Occupation of Araucanía was a series of military campaigns, agreements and penetrations by the Chilean army and settlers which led to the incorporation of Araucanía into Chilean national territory...
during the later stages of the Arauco War
Arauco War
The Arauco War was a conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people in what is now the Araucanía and Biobío regions of modern Chile...
, was promoted to Brigade General in 1854 and Division General in 1865. In 1855 he was elected Deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
for Santiago until 1858. President José Joaquín Pérez
José Joaquín Pérez
José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1861 and 1871....
named him Minister of War and Navy, a position he held between July 9, 1862 and January 4, 1865. In 1864 he was again elected a deputy and in 1866, he became the Senior General Officer (equivalent to Army Commander-in-chief) and a Councilor of State. In 1867 he was elected Senator and reelected in 1870, position he retained until his death.
He retired from 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....
in 1870, after 57 years, 4 months and 9 days of service 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...
the following year, at the age of 69.