René Vidal Merino
René Vidal Merino (8 October 1901 – 7 April 1987) was a Chilean army officer and politician. He served as commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army for ten days in 1958 and as minister of labor under President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo in 1955–1956.
Previously, from 1955 to 1956, he served as Minister of Labour in the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.
Biography
He was born in Curicó on 8 October 1901, the son of Ramón Vidal and Julia Merino.
He married María Margarita Basauri Velázquez (born 1904), with whom he had two children, Margarita (born 28 October 1936) and René, who became an Army general.
Military career
In 1921, he entered the Military Academy as a cadet and graduated as a second lieutenant of infantry. His first posting was to the 2nd Infantry Regiment Maipo. He subsequently served with the 1st Infantry Regiment Buin and, after attaining the rank of captain, with the 4th Infantry Regiment Rancagua.
He attended the War Academy, qualifying as a staff officer in 1938. The following year, he was appointed an instructor at the academy. After being promoted to lieutenant colonel, he attended a regular course at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States, between 1946 and 1947. Upon returning to Chile, he assumed command of the 13th Infantry Regiment Andalién and also served on the Army General Staff.
As a colonel, he was appointed secretary of the Superior Council of National Defence. In 1954, having attained the rank of brigadier general, he served as commander-in-chief of the Army's IV Division. The following year, he held the equivalent command of the I Division.
In 1955, he served as Quartermaster General of the Army. After attaining the rank of major general, he became chief of the General Staff of the Chilean Armed Forces. On 12 December of that year, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo appointed him Minister of Labour.
On 3 November 1958, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, serving until 13 November.
The following year, he retired from the Army.
He died in Santiago on 7 April 1987, aged 85.