Luis Arteaga Ramírez

Luis Arteaga Ramírez (died 19 November 1896) was a Chilean Army general and politician who served as Minister of War and Navy under presidents José Manuel Balmaceda and Jorge Montt. He was also a senior military commander during the War of the Pacific.

Biography

Arteaga entered the Military School in 1843 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1847. He later served as a mathematics instructor and, as a captain, became interim director of the Military School in 1857. He subsequently served as vice-director of the institution until 1862.

Before the War of the Pacific, Arteaga served as Inspector of the National Guard and as intendant and commander-general of arms of Llanquihue Province. Holding the rank of colonel when the war began in 1879, he commanded the Chilean forces that fought in the Battle of Tarapacá. He was subsequently appointed political chief of Tacna and Arica and commander of the Chilean occupation forces in the area.

Following the war, Arteaga returned to military education, serving first as deputy director and later as head of the Military School. He was promoted to brigadier general on 18 August 1887 and to general of division on 30 November 1891.

Arteaga also participated in public life and served as Minister of War and Navy during the administration of President José Manuel Balmaceda. Following the Chilean Civil War of 1891, he again headed the ministry under President Jorge Montt, serving from 11 June 1892 until April 1893. He was succeeded by Isidoro Errázuriz.

He retired from the Army in March 1895 and died in Santiago on 19 November 1896.

Personal life

Arteaga married Elvira García Lastarria.