Arturo Espinoza
Carlos Arturo Espinoza Mujica (16 December 1890 – 1978) was a Chilean Army general who served as acting Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army from August 1943 to October 1944.
Early life
Espinoza was born in Temuco, Chile, on 16 December 1890, the son of Darío Espinoza Pica and Claudia Mujica Ruiz.
He married María Inés Montt Montalva, with whom he had one son, Ernesto.
Military career
In 1909, Espinoza entered the special course of the Military Academy as a cadet. He graduated the following year as a second lieutenant of infantry and was assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment Pudeto.
Between 1912 and 1915, he served at the Military Academy. He was subsequently promoted to captain and transferred to the 7th Infantry Regiment Esmeralda.
After three years of study at the Chilean Army War Academy, Espinoza joined the Army General Staff in 1920. He was later assigned as an officer to the command of the II Army Division.
From 1923, Espinoza held several assignments abroad. As a major, he served as military attaché at the Chilean Embassy in the United States. In 1928, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was appointed military attaché to the Chilean Legation in Japan.
During the same period, while serving in Chile, he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment Esmeralda and the 1st Mountain Infantry Battalion Lagos.
After his promotion to colonel, Espinoza was appointed infantry commander of the II Army Division and inspector of Andean units. In 1936, he became director of Military Training Establishments, a position he held until his promotion to brigadier general in 1937.
As a brigadier general, he served as commander-in-chief of the I Army Division and later as director of personnel. Promoted to major general in 1939, he assumed command of the II Army Division. In 1940, he was appointed head of the Chilean Military Mission to the United States.
After returning to Chile, Espinoza became acting Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army on 12 August 1943. He remained in command until 11 October 1944, when he retired from the Army.
Espinoza died in Santiago, Chile, in 1978.