Pedro Dartnell
Encyclopedia
Division General Pedro Pablo Dartnell Encina (December 24, 1873 – September 26, 1944) was a Chile
an military officer and member of the Government Junta
of Chile
in 1925.
in 1873, the son of Robert Dartnell Lother and of Carmen Encina Ibáñez. He studied engineering at the Universidad de Chile, specializing in military engineering. In 1885 he was accepted as an Officer Cadet
to the Military Academy, where he studied until 1891. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on January 15, 1891. During the Chilean Civil War
, Dartnell served with the corps of military engineers, and joined the ranks of the Congressional Army. He participated in the battles of Concón and Placilla. That same year he was promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain. After the end of the war, he studied civil engineering at the University of Chile. With the great reform of the Chilean Army, he was sent to specialize in Europe. He travelled to Belgium, Germany and Spain between 1897 and 1899.
In January 1900, he was promoted to Major, and commander of military engineers. Three years later he was a commander already. In 1905 he was destined to the navy to help design the military fortifications of the port of Talcahuano. In 1910 he was sent again to Europe, this time as a student to the Ècole de Guerre, in Paris, where he studied until 1912. During his stay in France, he took an active interest in the French Air Service, and prepared a report which was the basis for the creation of the Chilean Military Air Force in 1913.
As a Colonel, in 1914, he was commander of telecommunications and Aeronautical Inspector. In 1919 he became General Director of the Chilean Air Force
. That same year he was promoted to Brigade General. As such he was General Commander of the II, III and IV Divisions, between 1920 and 1924. On November 28, 1924 was promoted to Army Inspector General
.
, but he declined to hold on to the power alone, and chose to became instead just one of the members of the January Junta
that took over the government on January 27. This junta ruled until March 20, when President Arturo Alessandri Palma reassumed his functions.
He retired from the army on June 15, 1926. On January 24, 1926, he married María Josefina Rosa Matte Amunátegui, with whom he had four children. In 1930 he was elected Senator for the "Talca, Linares and Maule" district, but only remained in Congress until its dissolution by the Socialist Republic of Chile
onJune 4, 1932. During his life he was condecorated with the following orders: Comendador de Isabel La Católica y Gran Cruz al Mérito Militar, by Spain; Grand Officer of the Italian Crown; Officer of the Légion d'honneur
and Grand Officer of the Order of Michael by France; Officer of the Belgium Crown. Dartnell died in Santiago
in 1944 at the age of 70.
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 and member of the Government Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1925)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to restore power to President Arturo Alessandri, after he had been deposed in 1924. On January 23, 1925, a military movement of young officers, wrestled power from the previous September Junta...
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...
in 1925.
Early life
Dartnell was born in the city of LinaresLinares, Chile
Linares is a Chilean city and commune located in the Maule Region and lies in the fertile Chilean Central Valley, south of Santiago and south of Talca, the regional capital...
in 1873, the son of Robert Dartnell Lother and of Carmen Encina Ibáñez. He studied engineering at the Universidad de Chile, specializing in military engineering. In 1885 he was accepted as an Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
to the Military Academy, where he studied until 1891. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on January 15, 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...
, Dartnell served with the corps of military engineers, and joined the ranks of the Congressional Army. He participated in the battles of Concón and Placilla. That same year he was promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain. After the end of the war, he studied civil engineering at the University of Chile. With the great reform of the Chilean Army, he was sent to specialize in Europe. He travelled to Belgium, Germany and Spain between 1897 and 1899.
In January 1900, he was promoted to Major, and commander of military engineers. Three years later he was a commander already. In 1905 he was destined to the navy to help design the military fortifications of the port of Talcahuano. In 1910 he was sent again to Europe, this time as a student to the Ècole de Guerre, in Paris, where he studied until 1912. During his stay in France, he took an active interest in the French Air Service, and prepared a report which was the basis for the creation of the Chilean Military Air Force in 1913.
As a Colonel, in 1914, he was commander of telecommunications and Aeronautical Inspector. In 1919 he became General Director of the Chilean Air Force
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force is the air force of Chile, a branch of the Chilean military.-History:The first step towards the current FACh was taken by Teniente Coronel Pedro Pablo Dartnell, when he founded the Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile on December 20, 1910, being trained as a pilot in France...
. That same year he was promoted to Brigade General. As such he was General Commander of the II, III and IV Divisions, between 1920 and 1924. On November 28, 1924 was promoted to Army Inspector General
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....
.
Political career
On January 23, 1925, he was handed the executive power by a group of young officers that deposed the September JuntaGovernment 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...
, but he declined to hold on to the power alone, and chose to became instead just one of the members of the January Junta
Government Junta of Chile (1925)
Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to restore power to President Arturo Alessandri, after he had been deposed in 1924. On January 23, 1925, a military movement of young officers, wrestled power from the previous September Junta...
that took over the government on January 27. This junta ruled until March 20, when President Arturo Alessandri Palma reassumed his functions.
He retired from the army on June 15, 1926. On January 24, 1926, he married María Josefina Rosa Matte Amunátegui, with whom he had four children. In 1930 he was elected Senator for the "Talca, Linares and Maule" district, but only remained in Congress until its dissolution by the Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile was a short-lived political entity in Chile, that was proclaimed by the Government Junta that took over that year.-Background:...
onJune 4, 1932. During his life he was condecorated with the following orders: Comendador de Isabel La Católica y Gran Cruz al Mérito Militar, by Spain; Grand Officer of the Italian Crown; Officer of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and Grand Officer of the Order of Michael by France; Officer of the Belgium Crown. Dartnell 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 1944 at the age of 70.