Marcial Urrutia

Marcial Urrutia Urrutia (9 April 1882 – 18 May 1940) was a Chilean Army general who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army from December 1933 to March 1934.

Early life

Urrutia was born in Lebu, Chile, on 9 April 1882.

Military career

Urrutia entered the Military Academy as a cadet in 1898. He graduated three years later as an artillery ensign and received his first assignment with the Coastal Artillery Regiment.

As a lieutenant, Urrutia served with the Field Artillery Regiment and, from 1905, with the 1st Artillery Regiment Tacna. Two years later, he was sent to Europe for advanced military training, serving with a field artillery regiment in Pressburg and attending a gunnery school in Veszprém, Austria-Hungary.

After returning to Chile, Urrutia, then a captain, rejoined the Tacna Regiment and subsequently held a command position at the Military Academy. In 1915, he entered the Chilean Army War Academy to train as a staff officer.

Between 1918 and 1921, Urrutia undertook several assignments abroad, serving in Cuba, Spain, the German Republic and France. Upon his return to Chile, holding the rank of major, he was assigned to the 2nd Artillery Regiment Arica. Two years later, he was appointed commander of the Aldunate Artillery Group.

After his promotion to lieutenant colonel, Urrutia served as deputy director of the Military Technical Academy. He was subsequently promoted to colonel and served as director of the Artillery School and the Army's War Arsenals.

Urrutia was promoted to brigadier general in 1932. He subsequently commanded the III Army Division and served as director of Army Services.

In 1933, during the absence of the incumbent commander-in-chief, Urrutia temporarily assumed command of the Chilean Army. Later that year, he was formally appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army. On 23 December 1933, he was promoted to General of the Army.

Urrutia remained commander-in-chief until 27 March 1934, when he retired from active military service.

He died in Santiago, Chile, on 18 May 1940, aged 58.