Jorge Araos
Jorge Humberto Araos Salinas (24 September 1904 – 8 August 1993) was a Chilean naval officer who attained the rank of vice admiral in the Chilean Navy and served as Minister of the Interior during the second administration of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo from April to June 1954.
Early life and family
Araos was born in San Bernardo, Santiago, on 24 September 1904, the son of Zacarías Segundo Araos Cornejo and Rosa Salinas Hurtado. He received his primary and secondary education at the Liceo de San Bernardo.
He married Adriana Isabel Figueroa Labra, with whom he had two sons, José Fernando and Jorge Amadeo, who became an agricultural engineer and a businessman, respectively.
Naval career
Araos entered the Arturo Prat Naval Academy in 1920 and graduated in 1922 with the rank of midshipman. Early in his naval career, he commanded the patrol vessels "Orompello" and "Porvenir" and served as aide to Luis Gómez Carreño, then Minister of the Navy. He subsequently served as executive officer of the tanker "Rancagua", the destroyer "Riquelme", and the cruiser "Blanco Encalada".
He later held a succession of naval appointments, serving as an instructor for lieutenants undertaking specialist training in navigation; deputy director of the Arturo Prat Naval Academy; operations officer of the Fleet; commander of the destroyer "Orella"; Chilean naval attaché in Brazil; and, from June 1946, chief of staff of the 1st Naval Zone in Valparaíso.
In 1950, Araos was appointed Chief of the Naval Staff and, in June of that year, commander of the Naval Arsenal, a position he held until 1951. The following year, he became director-general of Naval Services and was promoted to rear admiral. He was also appointed intendant of Magallanes Province.
In 1954, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo promoted Araos to vice admiral. On 23 April of that year, Ibáñez appointed him Minister of the Interior, a position he held until 5 June 1954.
Araos was also a member of the Chilean Naval Club, the Chilean Maritime League, and the 1st Company of the Viña del Mar Fire Department. He died in Santiago on 8 August 1993, at the age of 88.