Justo Pastor Dávila

Justo Pastor Dávila Herrera (1829-1901) was a Peruvian colonel who was a primary commander throughout the Lima campaign as well as the Sierra campaign during the War of the Pacific as well as the Prefect of Tarapacá in 1879.

Biography Justo was born on August 7, 1829, at Moquegua as the son of Don Vicente Fernández Dávila Pomareda and Doña Teresa Herrera Maura. He began military service around 1843 and was promoted to Colonel in 1865. On 1879, he was made the Prefect of Tarapacá before the Peruvian involvement in the War of the Pacific began as Mariano Ignacio Prado appointed him as the commander of the Vanguardia Division which was previously commanded by General Manuel G. De la Cotera.

This was due to several personnel changes in the command of the divisions during the month of May and after Belisario Suárez was appointed chief of the general staff, replacing Colonel Bustamante, of which Dávila himself supported. Andrés Avelino Cáceres took his position as chief of the second division, to whom he corresponded by seniority. La Cotera grew angry because of this and refused the position of chief of general staff and went to Lima alone with his assistant. He was replaced by Colonel Don Justo Pastor Dávila who was described as a courageous, impetuous and an extremely active chief.

Dávila would go on to participate at the Battle of Tarapacá, the Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos and the Battle of Miraflores before going on to be a primary commander at the Sierra campaign.