Francisco O'Ryan

Juan Francisco O'Ryan Orrego (16 January 1901 – 7 June 1968) was a Chilean naval officer who attained the rank of vice admiral in the Chilean Navy. He also served as a minister of state during the second government of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo between 1955 and 1957.

Early life and education

O'Ryan was born in Olmué, in the Chilean province of Valparaíso, on 16 January 1901, the son of José Antonio O'Ryan Samaniego and Georgina Orrego Ponce. He completed his primary and secondary education at Liceo No. 1 in Valparaíso.

He married María Elena Rocuant Escobar, daughter of lawyer and Radical Party politician Enrique Rocuant and María Zulema Escobar Guerrero. They had seven children: Elizabeth, John, María Beatriz, Patricia, Sergio, Luis Francisco and María Elena.

Naval career

Beginnings

O'Ryan entered the Naval Academy as a cadet on 18 March 1914 and graduated on 22 March 1920 with the rank of second-class midshipman. Later that year, he undertook an instructional cruise aboard the corvette General Baquedano, sailing along the Chilean coast and making a voyage to Easter Island.

On 22 March 1921, he was promoted to first-class midshipman and completed advanced courses at the Navy's gunnery and torpedo schools. In late April of that year, he was assigned to the battleship Almirante Latorre, where he completed periods of service with the fleet.

In 1922, he was transferred to the cruiser Chacabuco, taking part in training exercises with the Chilean fleet. On 10 October 1923, he was transferred to the destroyer Almirante Lynch as a gunnery officer and participated in fleet exercises. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 31 October 1924. He remained aboard until 23 November of that year, when the ship was sent to Arica for station duty.

On 16 April 1925, O'Ryan began a specialist course in naval artillery at the Navy's gunnery school. On 2 March 1926, he returned to the battleship Almirante Latorre as a gunnery officer, and on 26 April 1926 he was promoted to lieutenant. He remained aboard the vessel until 13 March 1928, when he was transferred to the Naval Gunnery School as an instructor.

In late October of that year, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo appointed him aide-de-camp to Minister of War Bartolomé Blanche. He held the position until late May 1930, when he was sent to England for advanced studies in gunnery.

As part of this assignment, from 5 January to 17 July 1931 he served aboard HMS Excellent for professional training. His performance earned him a special commendation from the Chilean naval mission in London. During his stay in England, on 26 April 1931, he was promoted to lieutenant commander.

O'Ryan returned to Chile on 27 August and was appointed acting commander of the destroyer Almirante Lynch. He remained in command until 28 November of that year, when he returned to the Naval Gunnery School as an instructor.

On 28 June 1932, he was appointed commander of the patrol vessel Yelcho, carrying out various assignments in the channels of Patagonia. On 27 January 1933, he was appointed deputy director and instructor at the Naval Gunnery School. Between 30 June and 22 December of that year, he also completed a staff information course at the Naval War Academy.

Rise

On 2 February 1934, he was transferred to the cruiser O'Higgins, where he served as fleet gunnery officer and naval prosecutor. On the same date in 1935, he was appointed commander of the minelayer Orompello, serving with the Chilean fleet and taking part in exercises involving submarines and other surface vessels.

On 19 March 1936, O'Ryan was appointed head of administrative affairs and of the Regulations and Publications Section at the Navy's headquarters. He remained in that position until 11 July 1939, when he was appointed secretary of the Chilean naval mission in London. During this period, on 3 July 1936, he was promoted to commander.

In September 1940, he returned to Chile, and on 8 November of that year he became acting chief of staff of the Naval Zone. On 12 February 1941, he was appointed executive officer of the battleship Almirante Latorre. On 27 March, he was transferred to command the destroyer Aldea, which formed part of the escort for the Brazilian Navy training ship Almirante Saldanha.

On 4 May 1942, O'Ryan was appointed chief of staff of the 1st Naval Zone, head of the Social Welfare Subdepartment and head of the Easter Island Section. On 8 August 1944, he was promoted to captain.

By Supreme Decree No. 1012 of 5 June 1944, he was appointed maritime governor of Iquique and head of the Northern Sector, formally assuming his duties on 19 June. On 19 February 1948, he was appointed commander of the Presidente Errázuriz. On 19 April of the same year, he was appointed commander of the training cruiser Chacabuco.

On 17 January 1949, he again assumed command of the Presidente Errázuriz, taking part in the second period of fleet exercises with the Amphibious Division. On 2 November of that year, he was appointed commander of BMS Araucano. On 21 January of the following year, he was assigned to the Third Naval Zone as commander of the Talcahuano Naval Arsenal and commander of the former cruiser O'Higgins.

On 9 February 1952, O'Ryan was appointed director of the Navy's Directorate-General of Personnel, and on 25 March he was promoted to rear admiral. On 14 November of that year, he assumed command of the Chilean fleet and became its naval judge, with his flag aboard the battleship Almirante Latorre.

On 3 December 1953, he was appointed commander-in-chief and naval judge of the First Naval Zone, while also serving on an acting basis as director-general of naval personnel. Then, on 13 January 1954, President Ibáñez del Campo promoted O'Ryan to vice admiral. By Supreme Decree No. 670 of 28 April that year, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy. From 27 June to 19 July 1955, he was also sent on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela, representing Chile as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Minister of state

On 30 December 1955, O'Ryan was appointed Minister of National Defense, serving concurrently as commander-in-chief of the Navy. During his tenure, he also served as acting Minister of the Interior from 17 to 27 July and from 3 to 9 August 1956, replacing Colonel Benjamín Videla Vergara. From 19 November to 17 December, O'Ryan travelled to Washington, D.C., at the invitation of the United States Chief of Naval Operations, and Videla Vergara served as acting Minister of National Defense during his absence. From 23 March to 23 April 1957, O'Ryan also served as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Osvaldo Sainte Marie.

O'Ryan left the Ministry of National Defense on 23 April 1957. On 3 June of that year, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, while continuing to serve concurrently as commander-in-chief of the Navy. Beginning on 14 August, during President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo's visit to Paraguay, O'Ryan assumed the country's executive authority as Vice President of the Republic. During this period, Minister of National Defense Adrián Barrientos served as acting Minister of the Interior. On 20 August, O'Ryan returned executive authority to Ibáñez del Campo and resumed his duties at the Ministry of the Interior. His tenure was again interrupted between 9 September and 11 November, when Minister of Economy and Commerce Horacio Arce replaced him, first in an acting capacity and subsequently as substitute minister. O'Ryan left office on 18 February 1958.

Later life and death

After 44 years of service, O'Ryan retired from the Chilean Navy on 22 March 1958. He spent his remaining years at his property in Olmué, where he died on 7 June 1968, aged 67.