PERU'S NAVAL OFFICERS
OFFICERS OF PERU'S OLD NAVY Page one
This is a gallery of pictures and paintings dedicated to the Peruvian Naval officers who fought during the most important naval campaigns of the XXth century. Most of them are regarded as national heroes and several units of the modern Peruvian Navy have been named before them.
GARCIA AND FERREYROS
Above, Commander Aurelio Garcia y Garcia, probably the most capable Peruvian Naval officer after Miguel Grau. Born in 1834, he joined the navy in 1852. Like other sailors of his time, he served both, in the navy and in the merchant fleet. In 1856 he was part of the crew who brought to Peru the British made steam warship Tumbes. In 1862 he received command of the bergantin Admiral Guise. In 1865 he become the first Commander of the ironclad Independence, and brought the ship from the united Kingdom. In 1872, Captain Garcia and Garcia was appointed as Minister of Peru to the Empires of Japan and China, and signed with the Emperors of those countries Treaties that established diplomatic relations between Peru and both Asian powers. This way Peru become the second country in the Americas after the United States to establish official likns with the Empire of the Rising Sun and the Celestial Empire. During the war with Chile he was appointed Commander of the Second Naval Division. During the campaing he also become skipper of the Union. His services to the nation during the war were invaluable. He participated as Peruvian delegate to the failed peace conversations between Peru and Chile held on the USS corvette Lackawana. In 1881, he was wounded in the battles of San Juan and Miraflores. He died in 1888. Below, Manuel Ferreyros, who during the war become the Skipper of the corvette Pilcomayo, the ship that participated on the battle of Chipana, the first naval encounter of the war held on April 12, 1879 against the 950-ton Chilean corvette Magellan. On July 6th of that year Commander Ferreyros executed a brilliant action on Chilean waters destroying 13 boats at Tocopilla, South of Iquique, and sinking the vessel Matilde. The port bateries were incapable of stoping Ferreyro' s action. After her task was completed, the Pilcomayo was discovered by the battleship Blanco Encalada, but was able to escape the fastest Chilean warship after 20 hours of persecution. Ferreyros action caused admiration in Chile, because with his small ship he put in doubt the power of the Chilean fleet and demonstrated that Chile's control of the sea was still an illusion (Photos, courtesy Rear Admiral Frank Boyle and Commander John Hopkins, Peruvian Navy)
Gallery continues
MORE PERUVIAN OFFICERS: Part 2 of the Gallery
MORE PERUVIAN OFFICERS: Part 3 of the Gallery
MORE PERUVIAN OFFICERS: Part 4 of the Gallery
MORE PERUVIAN OFFICERS: Part 5 of the Gallery