Arístides Martínez

Arístides Martínez Cuadros was a Chilean general and politician who was the president of the Senate of Chile from June 2, 1884, to September 15, 1884. He was also a primary commander throughout the War of the Pacific and its campaigns.

Family Arístides was the son of Victoriano Martínez Gutiérrez and Josefa Cuadros Pumarada. He got married with María Teresa Cuadros in 1881 but had no children.

Arístides Martínez had 3 brothers. His brother, Marcial, was Minister of Chile in London and befriended the Prince of Wales. His sister Lucia graduated as a doctor at Oxford and his brother Francisco also graduated as a doctor, being a professor at the Faculty of Medicine and became a scientist.

Military career He studied engineering at the Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy. He joined the Chilean Army in 1864, with the rank of second lieutenant and was added to the commission in charge of the fortifications of Valparaíso.

After fulfilling other commissions, he was sent to Araucanía in 1868, where he was assigned to survey plans and explore some rivers and unknown points.

In 1897 he directed the fortifications of Talcahuano, and the following year he was appointed an expert in the demarcation of the borders with Argentina. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1897 and to division general in 1899 before his retirement in 1904.

He owned copper and gold mines, all located near Santiago, in the commune of Lampa as well as having numerous decorations from Chile and foreign countries but Martínez died at Santiago on March 27, 1908.

By Supreme Decree No. 1768, on September 30, 1937 (B/O No. 40, p. 1116), he was named patronymic hero of the Engineers Regiment No. 3 "Curicó".