José Ignacio Zenteno del Pozo y Silva (July 28, 1786 – July 16, 1847), was a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

an soldier, politician and hero of the Chilean War of Independence. Zenteno was born in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

, the son of Antonio Zenteno y Bustamante and of Victoria del Pozo y Silva. He completed his studies at the Colegio Carolino, and took part in the movement for independence from the very beginning. In 1814, he became the secretary of Supreme Director Francisco de la Lastra, and was forced after the defeat of Rancagua, together with other patriots, to emigrate to Mendoza,

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, where, soon after his arrival, he was appointed secretary of the treasury of that province. There he befriended General

José de San Martín José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras (; 25 February 177817 August 1850), nicknamed "the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru", was an Argentine general and the primary leader of the southern and central parts of South America's succe ...

, of whom became one of his principal assessors. He formed part of the liberating army of Chile, and made the campaigns of 1817 and 1818, taking part in the battles of Cancha Rayada and Maipu. He was named Governor of

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

and when General

Bernardo O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (; 20 August 1778 – 24 October 1842) was a Chilean independence leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. He was a wealthy landowner of Basque people, Basque-Spanish people, Spani ...

was elected Supreme Director, he appointed Zenteno as Secretary of War and Navy where he distinguished himself by his activity. The government entrusted him with the formation of the First Chilean Navy Squadron, and he laid the foundation of the Chilean Navy which, under Admiral Lord Cochrane, obtained such glorious results. He created the first course of ship-ensigns. In 1822, after retiring from the ministry of war, he was appointed political and military governor of Valparaiso, and promoted to brigadier. In 1831 he was appointed inspector-general of the army, and from 1833 till 1846 he filled several important offices in the war department, and was also a member of the supreme council of war, the Society of agriculture, and was several times elected to congress representing Santiago and later, Victoria, and serving as vice-president of the chamber of deputies. He was one of the founders and first editor of the '' El Mercurio'' of

, taught law at the Universidad de Chile and was a member of the martial court (military tribunal). He died in Santiago at the age of 61.

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Official biography
1786 births 1847 deaths Politicians from Santiago, Chile Ministers of defense of Chile Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile Viceroyalty of Peru people Chilean Army generals Chilean Navy officers People of the Chilean War of Independence Chilean Navy personnel of the Spanish American wars of independence Intendants of Valparaíso Province {{Chile-mil-bio-stub