Vicente Villalón

Vicente Villalón was a Chilean Army officer and public official who served as Commander General of the Chilean Navy in 1865. An officer of the Chilean Army, he also served in administrative and military positions during the 1850s and 1860s.

Biography

Villalón served as an officer in the Chilean Army. During the Revolution of 1859, he held the rank of colonel and participated in government military operations. He served as Intendant of Talca during that year and subsequently operated in northern Chile.

Villalón later served as governor and Commander of Arms of Los Ángeles. In January 1860, he commanded government forces that advanced towards the Malleco frontier.

In 1865, Villalón was appointed Commander General of the Navy, succeeding Juan Ramón Lira. The office was not restricted to naval officers and was held during the nineteenth century by civilians and officers of both the Army and Navy. His tenure occurred during the Chincha Islands War, when Chile entered into conflict with Spain.

Villalón also served as Commander General of Arms of Valparaíso. On 24 October 1865, during the Spanish blockade of the port, a detachment from the Spanish corvette Vencedora attempted to land at Playa Ancha to seize Chilean boats used to report the movements of the blockading squadron. The landing party was confronted by soldiers of the Chilean Marine Artillery Battalion. Villalón, then identified as a lieutenant colonel and Commander General of Arms of Valparaíso, reported the incident.

The Chilean Navy records Villalón's tenure as Commander General as ending in 1865, when Juan Ramón Lira returned to the position.