Adrián Barrientos

Adrián Barrientos Villalobos (22 June 1909 – 21 July 1990) was a Chilean military officer and politician who served as a minister of state during the second government of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo between 1957 and 1958.

From 26 March 1945, he also served as commander of the military course and professor of general tactics at the Military Academy.

Barrientos was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 8 December 1946 and assigned to the Army General Staff. In 1947, he became executive officer of the 2nd Artillery Regiment in Arica. The following year, he was appointed a section chief in the Inspectorate of Artillery and Armoured Units. In 1949, he assumed command of the 2nd Horse Artillery Group Maturana, remaining in that post until 1951, when he was appointed aide to the Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, Rafael Fernández Reyes.

During the second government of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, Barrientos was promoted to colonel on 27 November 1952. On 9 February 1953, he was appointed Chilean military attaché in Bolivia. He returned to Chile on 18 March 1955 and was promoted to brigadier general on 11 August of that year.

Early life and family

Barrientos was born in Osorno, Chile, on 22 June 1909, the son of Rosauro Barrientos and Domitila Villalobos. His brother, Quintín, was a teacher and member of the Radical Party (PR) who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the 23rd Departmental Grouping of Osorno and Río Negro for three consecutive legislative terms from 1941 to 1953. Barrientos completed his primary and secondary education at the Liceo de Osorno.

On 29 June 1934, he married María Ester Laborie López in Linares. The couple had children.

Military career

Barrientos entered the Military Academy on 25 February 1924, graduating in 1926 as a second lieutenant of artillery.

He was promoted to lieutenant on 30 December 1929. He was subsequently assigned to the Artillery School of the Artillery Regiment at Tacna, where he served in a command position. After completing the lieutenant's course, he remained at the school as a permanent officer.

In 1931, Barrientos was assigned to the 2nd Horse Artillery Group Maturana and subsequently sent to the Cavalry School. After completing his course there, he returned to his previous unit. In 1934, he was again assigned to the Artillery School, and on 24 April 1935 he was promoted to captain. From 30 March 1935, he also served at the school as an instructor in measurement and observation.

In 1936, he served as an aide at the Army Directorate of Services, and in 1937 returned to the Maturana Group. In 1939, he was assigned to the headquarters of the II Motorized Division. Following his promotion to major on 30 December 1940, he entered the Chilean Army War Academy, graduating in 1942 as a qualified staff officer.

Between 1943 and 1944, Barrientos served as a group commander in the Tacna Artillery Regiment. From 12 May 1943, he concurrently served as an assistant professor of military geography in the information course for senior officers. Beginning in May 1946, he taught military geography at the Chilean Army War Academy.

Minister of state

In early 1957, President Ibáñez del Campo appointed Barrientos military delegate to the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE). On 23 April of that year, he was appointed Minister of National Defense, serving until 28 October 1957.

From 14 to 20 August 1957, Barrientos concurrently served as acting Minister of the Interior. He was also entrusted with the acting leadership of the Ministry of Justice from 11 October 1957 to 11 October 1958.

Barrientos retired from the Chilean Army on 5 November 1957.

He died in Santiago, Chile, on 21 July 1990, at the age of 81.