Agustín Arturo Prat Chacón
April 3, 1848 – May 21, 1879
Place of birth	near Ninhue, Chile
Rank	Commander
Commands	Esmeralda
Battles/wars	Naval Battle of Iquique

Agustín Arturo Prat Chacón (April 3, 1848, near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean navy officer, and is considered to be Chile's greatest hero. He was killed at the Naval Battle of Iquique after jumping on board of the Peruvian armored monitor Huáscar after his ship, the Esmeralda, was rammed by the Peruvian monitor. Prat, as captain of the Esmeralda, was the first to board the Huáscar. He was killed shortly after boarding. is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (527x703, 185 KB) Summary Original picture kept by his wife by her bedside. ... Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ... Esmeralda (BE-43) Esmeralda (BE-43) is a steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Armada. ... The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Walk Baquedano Iquique (IPA /ikike/) is a city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ... The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... Huáscar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... Esmeralda (BE-43) Esmeralda (BE-43) is a steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Armada. ... A monitor was a special form of warship, little more than a self-propelled floating artillery platform that could move close inshore and give its support to military operations on land. ... Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. ...

Previous to his martyrdom, Prat had taken part in several major naval engagements, including battles at Papudo (1865), a coastal city north of Valparaiso, and at the Battle of Abtao (1866), at the islet of Abtao before Chiloé Island. Following his death, his name became a rallying cry for Chilean forces, and since then, Arturo Prat has been considered a national hero. The Battle of Papudo was a naval engagement fought between Spain and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet on November 26, 1865. ... Valparaiso is the name of at least three cities and a village: Valparaíso, Chile Valparaiso, Florida Valparaiso, Indiana Valparaiso, Nebraska This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Combatants Spain Peru and Chile Commanders Claudio Alvar González Juan Topete Manuel Villar Strength 2 ships in actual combat 4 ships defending Casualties unknown unknown The Naval Battle of Abtao took place on February 7, 1866, between a Spanish naval squadron and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, at the... Chiloé Island Location of Chiloé in Chile Chiloé Island (Spanish: Isla de Chiloé), also known as Isla Grande de Chiloé Big Island of Chiloé, is a South American island off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean. ...

Prat's name is commemorated on numerous plazas (squares), streets, buildings and other structures in Chile. One of Chile's Antarctic research facilities, Arturo Prat Station, is named after him. His likeness also appears on the 10,000 Chilean peso bill. Chilean notes currently in circulation: 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000 pesos The peso is the currency of Chile. ...

Early life

Prat was born on the San Agustín de Puñual Hacienda, in south-central Chile, on April 4, 1848, the fourth (and only surviving) son of Agustín Prat and Rosario Chacón. He entered the Naval Academy on August 28, 1858, at the age of 10 years. is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Prat entered the Naval Academy thanks to the scholarships created by President Manuel Montt Torres. There were two scholarships per province. One for Arauco went to Prat, and the other went to Luis Uribe Orrego. Both had the same benefactor don Jacinto Chacón (uncle of Arturo and stepfather of Uribe), making the two youths like brothers. Manuel Montt Torres (1809 - 1880) was a Chilean political figure. ...

Directing the academy in those years was the Frenchman Juan Julio Feillet, backed by another Frenchman, don Anatolio Desmadryl. The young Arturo and his friend Luis were part of the so-called "class of the heroes" including, among others, Carlos Condell de la Haza, Juan José Latorre and Jorge Montt Álvarez. Vice Admiral Juan José Latorre Juan José Latorre Benavente (Santiago; March 24, 1846 - July 9, 1912) Chilean Vice Admiral, one of the principal actors of the War of the Pacific, and hero of the Battle of Angamos. ... Jorge Montt Álvarez (April 26, 1847 - October 8, 1922) was vice-admiral of the Chilean navy and president of Chile from 1891 to 1896. ...

During his first year he was often distracted and struggled in his studies, especially mathematics. But just as in his previous school, he overcame these difficulties and won a silver medal for his accomplishments.

In 1859, his second year as a cadet, he began a nautical apprenticeship, a requirement for second-year students. His first voyage of training was completed in the steamer Independencia, with sail and rigging maneuvers, followed later by practice in seamanship and artillery. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

In January of 1860, Arturo Prat boarded, for the first time, the "Esmeralda," the ship which would be the scene of his glory. His nautical apprenticeship continued: embarkation and disembarkation, combat simulation, etc. In July 1861, he left the Naval Academy as "primera antigüedad" (the most distinguished in the course). He obtained the grade of midshipman without examination. A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ...

Many things happened to Prat during this time. For example, there was an incident with the Infernal, a French ship that carried explosive materials. On October 1, 1861, it (fittingly) caught on fire while in the Bay of Valparaiso. The Esmeralda, which was also there, sent boats to save the wreck. Arturo Prat, steering one of these boats, struggled for two hours against the fire. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by...

War with Spain

On July 21, 1864, Prat passed with flying colors the theoretical and practical test needed to be promoted from "midshipman without exam" to "examined midshipman". That year saw the incidents that resulted in the war against Spain, inflamed by the Chilean attitude towards the occupation of the Peruvian Cincha Islands by a Spanish squadron. With war declared, it was a baptism by fire for Prat and his classmates. is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Commanding the Esmeralda at the time was Juan Williams Rebolledo, who planned the recovery of the Chilean steamer Matías Cousiño and the capture of the Spanish schooner Covadonga. The naval battle of Papudo occurred on December 26 and rapidly went to the Chilean side, which was superior in force and firepower and captured the defeated ship. The capture of the Covadonga resulted in the promotion by one grade of all sailors participating in the battle, converting Prat into a ensign (equivalent of army's Second Lieutenant). Paddle steamers — Lucerne, Switzerland. ... Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ... Ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. ...

Wishing to offset their losses at Papudo, the Spanish fleet sought another confrontation with the allied navies (Peru and Ecuador added to Chile's side). Their desire for vengeance were fulfilled at Chiloé, in the battle of Abtao, on February 7, 1866. Artillery combat occurred only between the Covadonga and the Spanish ships Villa de Madrid and Blanca, as the other allied ships were unused due to a lack of coal or the rocky estuary. Prat then served on the Covadonga, the ship which luckily resisted the Spanish bombardment. There were no losses on the allied side, while the Spanish suffered two deaths. is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Young officer

After the war, Prat completed a large number sea voyages, both inside and outside his country, for example the Juan Fernández Islands, Easter Island (on the Corvette "Esmeralda" under Policarpo Toro's command), Magallanes and Peru. During this last trip, in 1868, he was responsible for transporting aid to those affected by that year's earthquake, and he later he brought back the remains of Bernardo O'Higgins, at the orders of Manuel Blanco Encalada. The town of San Juan Bautista in Cumberland Bay, Robinson Crusoe Island Map of Isla Más Afuera / Selkirk Map of Isla Más a Tierra / Crusoe Orthographic projection centred over Juan Fernandez The Juan Fernández Islands is a sparsely inhabited island group in the South Pacific Ocean, situated... motto: ( Rapa Nui ) Also called Te Pito O Te Henua (Ombligo del mundo) (Navel of the world) Capital Hanga Roa Area  - City Proper  163. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate but larger than a coastal patrol craft. ... Magallanes can refer to these places in the Philippines: Magallanes, Agusan del Norte Magallanes, Cavite Magallanes, Sorsogon This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Bernardo OHiggins Riquelme (August 20, 1778 – October 24, 1842), South American independence leader, was one of the commanders – together with José de San Martín – of the military forces that freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. ... Manuel Blanco Encalada Manuel Blanco Encalada (April 21, 1790, Buenos Aires – September 5, 1876 Santiago de Chile) was a Chilean political figure, an Admiral and Chiles first President (1826). ...

On September 9 Prat became a Lieutenant. The future hero the returned to Naval School, but this time as an instructor. Since 1871 he was the Second Commander of the Esmeralda, leading to his appointment to several positions in the school (teacher, subdirector, internal director), and he was assigned to teach the courses of naval order, law, naval tactics, cosmography, etc. Likewise he had to dock the corvette for four years (1871-1874) in the Mejillones port. He received the title of Graduated Corvette Captain (equivalent to Lieutenant Commander) in 1873 and Capitán de Corbeta Efectivo in 1874. He was a dedicated teacher, who fought against the lack of resources available to provide quality education. He himself translated textbooks from French to Spanish. is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ...

Around that time, Prat faced an unusual situation. On May 24, 1875, the Esmeralda was in the port of Valparaíso, while Prat was on sick leave. The commander of the ship, Luis Alfredo Lynch, was also on leave, so Lieutenant Constantino Bannen was left in charge. A storm began in the bay, and the Valdivia broke its ties and went right towards the Esmeralda, which then crashed with the Maipo. It appeared that the Esmeralda's destruction was unavoidable. When Prat and Lynch came back, they managed to get transported back to the ship by boat, but the violent waves kept them from embarking. Arturo Prat threw himself to the water and swam to the ship to climb a rope (as Lynch had done just before him), He worked feverishly with a rope tied by the waist to the mast to accomplish rescue maneuvers. This consisted in making the ship stop with the bow against the beach and securing it there through riggings. It wasn't easy, but finally they were able to do it. Luis Alfredo Lynch would later remember Prat's "unflappable calm in the face of danger". is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The repairing of the Esmeralda was hard and long and cost 100,000 pesos. And Lynch had to face charges of dereliction of duty, but he was saved by a tie in the voting. Throughout the trial, Arturo Prat was always faithful to his superior, helping him in what he could.

After the tests of May 1876, the government of Chile closed the Naval School. Chile no longer needed officers, explained the government, only three years before the Pacific War. It has been suggested that Greater East Asia War in the Pacific be merged into this article or section. ...

Prat, who left Condell in charge of the Esmeralda, disembarked and was named helper of the Maritime Government of Valparaíso (for his studies in law). It was December 1876, he was already a graduated commander, but to the ship of his destiny he'd only return once the war started. Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ...

Lawyer Prat

The studies

Naval Battle of Iquique

In 1870 Arturo started on the path to becoming a lawyer. Prat had always had an interest in the law and therefore decided to pursue his law degree. He entered as a secondary student in humanities at the Liceo de Valparaíso and the National Institute (Instituto Nacional). In 1871 he received his secondary school diploma in Philosophy and Humanities, a prerequisite to studying law. One of his examiners was the renowned Chilean historian Diego Barros Arana. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... Instituto Nacional (National Institute), officially Liceo Ex A-0 - Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera, is Chiles oldest and most prestigious public school. ... Diego Barros Arana Diego Jacinto Agustín Barros Arana (August 16, 1830 - November 4, 1907) educator, diplomat and Chilean historian. ...

The next year he started his studies in property law at the Faculty of Law in the Chile University. He studied onboard the "Esmeralda", which was located in Mejillones. Upon returning from his mission, he requested to be take his examinations in Valparaíso, where he passed the required subjects. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Universidad de Chile may refer to: Universidad de Chile (university) Universidad de Chile (football club) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Valparaiso National Congress Valparaíso is Chile’s most important seaport and an increasingly vital cultural center. ...

In 1875 he began practicing law in a law firm in the port town, as a prerequisite to receiving his license.

In July of the following year, Prat passed his final required courses and was now ready to complete his licensing. In order to graduate he was required to pass an examination on an area of law picked at random. He was assigned Roman Law, which he managed to pass between 24, 25 and 26 July, while his thesis "Observaciones sobre la ley electoral vigente" (Observations on the current electoral law) was approved. There remained one final step before receiving his license, a final exam before the judges of the Supreme Court. Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome. ...

On 31 July 1876, at 11 a.m., the lieutenant commander passed through the corridors of Supreme Court of Justice with full dress uniform and sword at the belt; he has come to take examination before the highest judges, the final requirement to practice law. is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1876 Pick up Sticks(MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ...

But, surprisingly, Prat was told that the judges had decided not to hear examinations that day. The enterprising lawyer insisted that he had an appointment for that day, and that he had very little free time as a naval officer, requesting a meeting with the Supreme Court president Manuel Montt Torres. He convinced him to hear his examination, and as the day ended, surrounded by the court's applauses, Prat became a 28-year-old lawyer. Manuel Montt Torres (1809 - 1880) was a Chilean political figure. ...

Prior to his final exam, Prat had already conducted legal work while defending the engineer Ricardo Owen, accused of disobedience, and also his friend and classmate Luis Uribe Orrego, accused of disobedience and contempt to his superiors. He succeeded the first time, but he did not have the same luck when defending his friend, who was condemned to six months of jail by six votes. The amnesty of the President saved Uribe and his naval career from that destiny.

Jurist

Prat practised his recently adopted profession for a very short time. He primarily devoted himself to resolving the legal problems of the Chacón and Carvajal families, as well as naval-related problems.

He aspired to be a Navy auditor, but he only was sworn as "assistant" (mainly because of his lack of experience), assigned the legal aspects of the Navy General Command. Prat performed a complete remodeling of the army's legal system, starting with the Navigation Law. He presented 152 modifications to it, many of which were approved. He also was in charge of the regularization of the promotion system, to avoid that social relations, politics and other factors apart from own merit and seniority influenced promotions. Prat died without this navy code being published.

“Observaciones a la lei electoral vijente”

Translated: "Observations on the effective electoral law"

Observaciones a la lei electoral vijente

This was Arturo Prat's thesis book, which contained many clues about his political thoughts. It was written within the framework of the promulgation of the new electoral law during Federico Errázuriz Zañartu's government, in which the Greater Taxpayer Institution and Parliament Member Cumulative Vote were established. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (430x720, 28 KB)Portada del libro de Arturo Prat, que data de 1876 y que ha entrado en el dominio publico This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (430x720, 28 KB)Portada del libro de Arturo Prat, que data de 1876 y que ha entrado en el dominio publico This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with... Federico Errázuriz Zañartu Federico Errázuriz Zañartu (April 25, 1825 - 1877) was a Chilean political figure. ...

Prat analyzes this law with the perspective that it would make further progress towards electoral freedom possible. He points out the contradictions and the obscurity of the text, but he stresses that it is an "eminently liberal" law. Prat ends saying: ...deep-down a good law, it needs serious and important reforms with respect to regulations if it is to achieve the lofty objective it is destined to: to be the effective guarantee that the voting result is the happy expression of the national will".

Again, the text reveals Prat's political ideas, clearly reflecting the common liberalism of the times, and demonstrates a great naivety (not even with all of its indications could the law prevent the intervention of the executive power). Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ...

Family man

Engagement and matrimony

Don Pedro Chacón used to throw parties in his portside house once or twice a week. Arturo frequently attended, as did Concepción Chacón's sister-in-law, Carmela Carvajal. In those happy get-togethers the couple met and fell in love, a love that would last a lifetime.

In the voyage of repatriation of O'Higgins mortal remains from Peru, Prat brought presents for Carmela: a sewing box, a fan, a silver cross, and an ivory card holder.

The relationship was very obvious, but Prat was bothered when others mentioned it. In addition to his shyness, he got annoyed because he was afraid to formalize an engagement because he had no money to support the marriage.

When he learned that he would be promoted to Corvette Captain, he finally decided to ask for Carmela's hand, in 1873. The only love letter from Prat to his fiancée that has reached us is dated shortly after:

My Carmela, my life, my treasure, I have to tell you, even that I adore you every day more fervently, I cannot do it now because I am afraid a could fall ill. Receive the passionate heart of your Arturo.

On 5 May 1873 the wedding bells sounded over the San Agustín de Valparaíso church. A beautiful red carpet was laid, over which the radiant 22-year-old bride passed on her way to the altar. Her parents had died when she was a girl, and she had been raised by her siblings, through whom she had contact with the Chacón family. The Chacóns adopted her as a member of the family. Tall, slender and beautiful, she met with a sturdy Arturo Prat, with large forehead due to his baldness, thick beard and steady step. The cleric José Francisco Salas blessed them at 10:30 am. They were man and wife. is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Their relationship as spouses was based on a love that did not fade for a single moment during the six years they lived together. Prat treated his wife as an equal, as a partner (something really rare in that society), putting her in charge of the family budget, and he, on the other hand, helped with some house chores: "At every moment I seem to find you exhausted from rocking our daughter, without me being with you and sharing, event if it's by little, your works...".

First happiness and first tragedy

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Quillota and in the Cauquenes's Hot Springs. After that, Prat returned to Valparaíso to resume his navy duties. He did not see his wife again until October. The city of Quillota is located in the Aconcagua river valley, in the Valparaiso region of Chile. ...

By that time Carmela was already pregnant of their first daughter. Prat wrote for the event of his daughter's birth:

The fifth of march Carmela de la Concepción was born at 9:35 a.m., under the circumstances that I had to go to Santiago just the day before...The fifth of April she was baptised in the Church of the Holy Spirit, the godparents being Conchita with José Jesús...

It seems to me that she was to be very vivacious, smiling, playful... Last night I dreamt about her and she seemed to know me and with her little face a bit sad, she extended her little arms to hug me...

But like Prat's older brothers who died very young, the girl inherited a very frail and sickly build. Arturo writes to Carmela: "Keep using homeopathy for my little daughter and inform me after she is healthy". He has, undoubtedly, the hope that the method that (he supposed) cured his weak condition, would work the same wonders in little Carmela. But it didn't work, the child's life was extinguishing more and more every day, to the despair of the helpless parents, who put all their strengths in their prayers.

Poor little angel! I cannot see her any more, at least I want her to be healthy.

Carmelita's problem was a hernia caused by the badly removed umbilical cord, in addition to several other illnesses (diarrhea, fever, etc.).

For Prat's despair, at the end of the annual season, he had to be transferred to the center of the country, because of the Abtao, a steamer that should have arrived but had not. It was Sunday 13 December when the boat finally arrived, and he wrote to his wife: "Later then I will be seeing you, as I will see my little child who I hope is completely healthy..." December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

But the girl had died one week ago, 5 December. At dusk, a devastating letter arrived from his wife: "My beloved Arturo, our dear little angel is still not well; I feel my heart fainting from pain and you are not here to hold me... If it were possible for you to come, that would be my only comfort. Don't despair my wellbeing, think of your unhappy Carmela". December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

More desperation for Prat, the steamboat would not leave until the 18th.

All his hopes were destroyed in that trip, days later, when he was given a condolence letter in an intermediate port, signed by Juan José Latorre. Arturo wrote at the foot of Carmela's previous letter: “The 5th of December, at past 1 hour and 3 minutes after midnight, my daughter Carmela de la Concepción died. This is the letter destined to announce it to me. The sadness it reveals should have made me see, but hope is so sweet." Vice Admiral Juan José Latorre Juan José Latorre Benavente (Santiago; March 24, 1846 - July 9, 1912) Chilean Vice Admiral, one of the principal actors of the War of the Pacific, and hero of the Battle of Angamos. ...

War of the Pacific

Heroes of Iquique monument and crypt in Valparaiso, Chile. At the top is the statue of Prat, on the second level statues of Serrano,Riquelme, Aldea and a generic seaman.

When the war broke out, Prat was assigned to assistant of the Navy General Command, a position he tried to reject. Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Juan Williams Strength Peru-Bolivian Army 7,000 soldiers in 1878 Peruvian Navy 2 ironclad, 1 corvette, 1 gunboat Army of Chile 4,000 soldiers in... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1716x2576, 733 KB) Summary Monument to the heroes of Iquique (and cript), at Plaza Sotomayor, Valparaíso Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1716x2576, 733 KB) Summary Monument to the heroes of Iquique (and cript), at Plaza Sotomayor, Valparaíso Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Valparaíso is one of the main seaports of Chile, on the Pacific Ocean, and the capital of the Valparaíso Region. ...

When Don Rafael Sotomayor Baeza was required to go to Antofagasta with instructions from the Government, he requested an assistant, and Prat was assigned to the job. Being both of them aboard the armored ship Blanco Encalada, he was assigned to notify Iquique's authorities that they have been blocked by the Chilean army, which he did without letting the hostile position of the people daunt him. Antofagasta is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and steep hills to the east Street in Antofagasta   () is a port city and episcopal see in northern Chile, about 700 miles north of Santiago. ... Walk Baquedano Iquique (IPA /ikike/) is a city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ...

He was assigned Covadonga's command. On 3 May the corvette Abtao, under lieutenant commander Carlos Condell de la Haza's command, and the Covadonga, under Prat's command, set sail towards Iquique arrivin to that port on 10 May. is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

To achieve the plan that the Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo had conceived, consisting in attacking the Peruvian squadron in El Callao's port, he assigned as Abtao's commander Manuel Thompson, who commanded the corvette Esmeralda until then. Arturo Prat replaced him, and Carlos Condell de la Haza was designated Covadonga's commander. Rear-Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo Juan Williams Rebolledo (Curacaví 1825 - Santiago, June 24, 1910) was a Chilean rear admiral who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy at the beginning of the War of the Pacific. ... Callao (Spanish: El Callao) is the largest and most important port in Peru. ... Esmeralda (BE-43) Esmeralda (BE-43) is a steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Armada. ...

On 16 May, the squadron set sail to Callao Port, with the intention of surprising the Peruvian warships, but the same day Peruvian monitor Huáscar and armored frigate Independencia set sail from that port, towards Arica, to carry reinforcements, armaments, ammunition and provisions, so both squadrons missed each other on their trips. May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Callao (Spanish: El Callao) is the largest and most important port in Peru. ... Huáscar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ...

Battle of Iquique

It was 21 May 1879, 6:30 in the morning, when the fog cleared, Covadonga's lookout shouted: "Smoke to the north!". But, due to the thick marine fog, they were not able to identify the newly arrived ships, and for a few moments they thought it was the Peruvian squadron coming back. The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

At 6:45 a.m., a sailor by Condell's side asked for the telescope, and in a moment of clarity he observed the warships' riggings and said to Condell: "It's the Huáscar and the Independencia". "What bases do you have to assert that" asked Condell, and the sailor answered "For the shape of the plateau on the top of the foremast".

Immediately Condell ordered a shot to the air to warn the Esmeralda, still anchored in the port. They were, in fact, the Independencia and the Huáscar.

In that same moment, the Peruvian admiral Grau roused his crew: "Crewmembers of the Huáscar, Iquique is at sight, there are our afflicted fellow countrymen from Tarapacá, and also the enemy, still unpunished. It's time to punish them! I hope you will know how. Long live Peru!"

Carlos Condell de la Haza warned Prat, and he, seeing the difference between their forces and the enemies', he pronounced his famous impassioned speech before his brethren in arms:

Lads, the battle will be unfair, but, cheer and courage. Our flag has never been hauled down before the enemy and I hope this will not be the occasion to do it. From my part, I assure you that as long as I live, this flag will blow in its place, and if I die, my officers will know how to fulfill their duties.

The Esmeralda was then an old wooden corvette weighing 850 tons and 200 horsepower, with eight 40-pound cannons, four 30-pounders and two of 6 pounds. When the action began, Prat ordered Condell to follow his course and the Covadonga met with the Esmeralda and the Lamar in the middle of the bay. At 8:15, the first volley hit between the ships, and Prat ordered the Esmeralda to start moving, followed by the Covadonga. At 8:25 a second volley fell and a shot from the Huáscar hit fully at the starboard, passed through Esmeralda's side, killing the surgeon Videla, beheading his assistant, and mortally wounding another sailor. The transporter Lamar hoisted the US flag and fled to the South, and Condell changed his course and went behind that ship. Grau ordered to the Independencia to block Covadonga and Lamar's way Prat observed Condell's action and he asked himself: "What is Condell doing?" Condell ignored Prat's order and followed the Lamar, but the warship did get to sneak from the Covadonga, and the Independencia under control of Juan Guillermo Moore followed him. On the other hand, the monitor Huáscar weighed 1,130 tons and had a plating 4½-inches thick, two 300-pounds forecharging cannon on a revolving tower and 11 mph at maximum speed.

Death of Arturo Prat.

The Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, Huáscar's captain directs the Independencia to the chase of the Covadonga, while he finished the Esmeralda. Prat went down to his cabin, got dressed with his parade uniform, put away his wife's picture and other objects and went up again to the command post. Prat quickly positioned the ship in front of the coast, 200 meters from it, forcing the Huáscar to shoot with a parabolic trajectory to avoid hitting the Peruvian village, whose people gathered in crowds to see the battle. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (686x1000, 221 KB) pictue of Thomas Somerscales, from the XIX century (1886) File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (686x1000, 221 KB) pictue of Thomas Somerscales, from the XIX century (1886) File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat ... Grand Admiral Miguel María Grau Seminario (b. ... Huáscar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ...

General Buendía, commander of Peruvian garrison of Iquique, had artillery cannons placed in the beach and sent an emissary in a fast rowing boat with a warning to the Huáscar. Grau was misinformed that the Esmeralda was loaded with torpedoes and stopped 600 m (660 yd.) from it and began shooting with its 300-pound cannons, not hitting her for an hour and a half, due to the Peruvian sailor's inexperience in the handling of the monitor's Coles tower. The Chilean crew answered with their 30-pound cannons and gunfire, shots that rebounded uselessly from the Huáscar's plated armor. Captain Cowper Phipps Coles, C.B., R.N. (1819 - September 7, 1870), the son of the Reverend John Coles and his wife Mary Ann Goodhew Rogers, was an English naval captain and inventor. ...

At the coast, the Peruvians installed a 9-pound-cannon battery and began to bomb the Chilean ship. A grenade reached it, killing three men. Prat order the warship to move, slowly maneuvering at scarcely 4 knots, for its engine was defective and one its boilers burst. He stopped 1,000&nbp; from the city and 250 m from land, where they would stand until their sinking. This move made Grau see the inexistence of the torpedoes that supposedly filled the Esmeralda. One of Huáscar's shots hit fully on the board, beheading the ordering bugler and mutilating the cannon's guardians. The board started to stain with the blood of the fallen. Military bugle in Bâ™­ A French marine bugler at a ceremony in Kuwait City celebrating the success of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 Bugler redirects here. ...

Arturo Prat on a Chilean stamp of 1948

The position of the Esmeralda was desperate when it began to receive both Huáscar and Iquique's beach's cannon shots. Even Grau from his armored tower claimed: “It's remarkable how these Chileans battle”, impressed by the courage shown by the enemy. Image File history File links Arturo_Prat. ... Image File history File links Arturo_Prat. ...

At 11:30am, Grau, seeing the useless slaughter that was taking place in the dismantled and disgraced corvette and wanting to end the combat, which had been nearly 4 hours long until that moment, ordered to charge into the Esmeralda. The monitor backed to get enough impulse and charged bow-first into starboard side of the ship. When Prat saw the enemy warship colliding into his, near the stern, he raised his sword and cried: "Let's board, boys!", but due to the roar of the battle, only the sergeant Juan de Dios Aldea heard it, and both him and Prat and a sailor named Arsenio jumped into the other ship's board. Arsenio unfortunately slipped and fell down because of the impact, so just the two officers got to the monitor. The sergeant Aldea armed with a boarding hatchet and a pistol received a burst from the artillery tower and falls mortally injured. Only Prat continued advancing, amazing the Peruvian crew for his tremendous courage. Grau gave order to capture the Chilean captain alive. Grand Admiral Miguel María Grau Seminario (b. ...

Prat got to the enemy's board and advanced towards to command tower, but he was hit by a bullet. Nevertheless he did not fall and could stand on his knee, but a sailor from the artillery tower stroke him dead with a shot in the forehead.

Sinking of the Esmeralda.

From the Esmeralda they saw with horror their chief's sacrifice, and when Grau tried another charge, now against the Esmeralda's bow, Ignacio Serrano cried again "Stand by for boarding!" and he boarded with ten more men the Huáscar, but they were massacred by shots of the mounted Gatling guns and the monitor's crew. Ignacio Serrano was then, the only survivor and had received several wounds in the genital area and his shouts are atrocious due to the pain. Grau quickly had him picked up and carried to the infirmary in state of shock, where they leave him next to the dying sergeant Aldea. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x692, 215 KB) pictue of Thomas Somerscales, from the XIX century (1881) File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x692, 215 KB) pictue of Thomas Somerscales, from the XIX century (1881) File links The following pages link to this file: Arturo Prat ... An 1865 Gatling gun. ...

A third charge, this time into the middle of the ship, was fatal and sentenced the ship to death. Nobody else could jump to the other ship for lack of height, as the Esmeralda was already sinking. The Chilean banner was the last thing to touch the water, and the last shot was made by the first lieutenant Riquelme, who sunk with the artillery piece; it was 12.10pm. Grau showed grief for Prat's death and paid him respects.

After the battle, Admiral Grau gave order that Prat's personal objects (diary, uniform and sword among others) were to be returned to his widow. Carmela Carvajal received them, as well as a letter from the Peruvian Admiral, proving his rival's person quality, his gentlemanship and his high moral values. Grau was later named "The Knight of the Seas".

Grau also ordered to rescue the surviving Chilean sailors, immediately after they repaired their boats, and gave them dry clothes and food. He kept them at the stern hold, because if they went back to the beach, the crowd would certainly kill them.

In the confrontation of Iquique, that day Chile lost an old wooden ship, but Prat's death allowed the mobilization of the Chilean population to support the war's common cause, and that would be one of the factors of the Chilean victory in the War of the Pacific, being the most important one the superiority of their fleet. Walk Baquedano Iquique (IPA /ikike/) is a city in northern Chile, capital of Tarapacá Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ... Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Juan Williams Strength Peru-Bolivian Army 7,000 soldiers in 1878 Peruvian Navy 2 ironclad, 1 corvette, 1 gunboat Army of Chile 4,000 soldiers in...

Trivia

• "Arturo Prat" is the most repeated street name across Chile. There are 162 communes in Chile who bear a street with his name, beating "Manuel Rodríguez" (158), "Gabriela Mistral" (134) and "Lautaro" (116).^[1]

... Monument of Manuel Rodríquez displayed in Bustamante Park in Santiago, Chile // Early Years (1785-1810) Manuel Rodríguez Erdoíza, Chilean lawyer and guerrilla, was born on 27 February 1785 and was the son of Don Carlos Rodríguez de Herrera y Zeballos, a customs officer of Peruvian nationality... Gabriela Mistral Gabriela Mistral (April 7, 1889 – January 10, 1957) was the pseudonym of Lucila de María del Perpetuo Socorro Godoy Alcayaga, a Chilean poet, educator, diplomat and feminist who was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1945. ... Lautaro Lautaro (In Mapudungun: Lef-Traru: Speedy Crested Caracara) was a Mapuche military leader and protagonist in the War of Arauco. ...

References

Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Spanish-language wikipedia article (retrieved January, 2006). The following references are cited by that Spanish-language article:

• Gonzalo Bulnes, “Guerra del Pacífico”, three volumes, Sociedad Imprenta Litografía Universo, Valparaíso, 1911.
• Gonzalo Vial Correa, “Arturo Prat”, Editorial Andrés Bello, Santiago, 1995
• Bernardo Vicuña, Biografía completa de Arturo Prat , Valparaíso : Impr. del Mercurio, 1879.

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External links

• Arturo Prat University
• "Arturo Prat" Navy School
• Chilean Navy - Arturo Prat, Chile's Greatest Hero