Mariano Navarrete

Mariano Navarrete Ciris (22 September 1866 – 15 October 1940) was a Chilean military officer and politician. A major general, he held several senior commands in the Chilean Army and later served as Minister of Education during the presidency of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

Military career

Navarrete was born in Ovalle on 22 September 1866 and received his early education there.

At the age of 25, he joined the Congressional Army as a lieutenant, with his rank formally recognized on 14 January 1891 during the Chilean Civil War of 1891. He was subsequently promoted to captain by the revolutionary junta in Iquique and assigned to the 6th Line Battalion. He took part in the battles of Concón and Placilla, and remained in the army following the Congressional victory.

By 1898, Navarrete held the rank of major and served as chief of staff of the III Military Zone, a position he held until 1903. In 1906, he was appointed commander of the 13th Infantry Regiment "O'Higgins". The following year, he was appointed Chilean military attaché to Peru and later to France.

After returning to Chile, he held a series of commands, including the 2nd Infantry Brigade, the Escuela de Clases in 1911, and the 5th Infantry Brigade in 1912. In 1917, he became director of the War Academy. Following his promotion to brigadier general in 1920, he was again appointed military attaché to France.

After attaining the rank of major general, Navarrete served as chief of the Army General Staff, commander-general of the Carabineros Corps, and Inspector General of the Army. He retired from active military service on 10 February 1925.

Minister of Education

During the presidency of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, Navarrete was appointed Minister of Education in 1929. While serving in the ministry, he inaugurated the first National School of Hygiene on 14 April 1930.

Navarrete died in Santiago on 15 October 1940.

Further reading

• Archivo General de Guerra. Hoja de vida y actuaciones destacadas.
• Gómez Millas, Juan. "Política educacional". Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (1877–1960). El Mercurio, Santiago, 3 November 1977.
• Galería de hombres de armas de Chile. Vol. III, Período de influencias alemana y norteamericana 1885–1952. Santiago, 1987.
• Navarrete Ciris, Mariano. Memorias.