Vice Admiral Francisco Nef Jara (August 3, 1863 – June 9, 1931) was a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

an naval officer and member of the Government Junta that ruled

between 1924 and 1925. Nef was born in Valparaiso. At the age of 16, on March 1, 1879, he joined the Military Academy, where he remained until 1881, when he transferred to the Naval Academy to finish his studies. By 1883, he already was a second-class ensign and joined the crew of the ironclad ''Blanco'', under the command of future president Jorge Montt. During the remainder of the

War of the Pacific The War of the Pacific ( es, link=no, Guerra del Pacífico), also known as the Saltpeter War ( es, link=no, Guerra del salitre) and by multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought ...

, he served in the ''O'Higgins'', ''Chacabuco'' (blockading Pacocha, in northern

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

), ''Abtao'' (patrolling the extreme south of Chile), ''Cochrane'' and ''Pilcomayo''. In November 1884 he was part of the crew of the ''Blanco'' that took that ship back to England for a complete rehaul. In 1885 he was sent to France to join the crew of the ''Colbert'', to study French naval tactics. With that ship he visited most of the European and African ports of the time. By 1887, he was a second lieutenant, and participated in the hydrographic reconnaissance of the north of Chile, specially the areas of Esmeralda, Carrizal Bajo, and Arica. During his career, he served in almost all the ships of the Chilean Fleet. During the 1891 Chilean Civil War, he fought for the congressional side against President

José Manuel Balmaceda José Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández (; July 19, 1840 – September 19, 1891) served as the 10th President of Chile from September 18, 1886, to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile. While he was ...

. After the war, he rose thought the ranks very quickly. By 1896 he already was Commander and in charge of the hydrographic charting of the extreme south of Chile. In 1901 he was named second commander of the Naval Academy. By 1910 he was made a Rear-Admiral and in 1919 a Vice-Admiral. On March 24, 1922, was named Director General of the Navy. During the conservative military coup of September 11, 1924 that ousted president

Arturo Alessandri Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma (; December 20, 1868 – August 24, 1950) was a Chilean political figure and reformer who served thrice as president of Chile, first from 1920 to 1924, then from March to October 1925, and finally from 1932 to ...

, he was first named minister of Finance, and then a member of the Government Junta, together with General

Luis Altamirano Luis Altamirano Talavera (July 5, 1867 – July 25, 1938) was a Chilean 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 th ...

and General Juan Pablo Bennett. He was forced to retire from active duty on October 9, 1924, and died in Valparaiso in 1931.

External links

Official biography
1863 births 1931 deaths Heads of state of Chile Leaders who took power by coup Chilean admirals People from Valparaíso Chilean Ministers of Finance 19th-century Chilean Navy personnel 20th-century Chilean Navy personnel {{Chile-politician-stub