Joaquín Muñoz Hurtado

Joaquín Muñoz Hurtado (died 31 December 1922) was a Chilean naval officer who served as Director General of the Chilean Navy from 1916 to 1922.

Biography

Muñoz pursued a career in the Chilean Navy and participated throughout the War of the Pacific. Following the war, he undertook advanced naval studies at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in the United Kingdom. He subsequently held several commands and senior positions within the Chilean Navy.

During the Chilean Civil War of 1891, Muñoz commanded the gunboat Magallanes as part of the Congressional naval forces. He later commanded the cruiser O'Higgins, bringing the newly built vessel from England to Chile in 1898.

In 1916, Muñoz succeeded Lindor Pérez as Director General of the Navy. During his administration, he authorized, with the approval of the Chilean government, the dispatch of the cutter Yelcho under Luis Pardo to rescue the members of Ernest Shackleton's expedition stranded on Elephant Island in Antarctica.

Muñoz remained Director General until 1922. He died at his residence in Viña del Mar on 31 December that year.