Background
Jorge Montt Álvarez was born on 26 April 1845 in Casablanca.
Jorge Montt Álvarez was born on 26 April 1845 in Casablanca.
He entered the naval school in 1858 and received his commission three years later.
He saw action in both the 1865-1866 war with Spain and the War of the Pacific of 1879-1883 against Peru and Bolivia. He was named maritime governor of Valparaiso in 1887.
When a majority in Congress rebelled against President José Manuel Bal- maceda Fernández in January 1891, Captain Jorge Montt led the navy in support of the congressional action. He was named head of a rebel Government Junta established in Iquique in April, which took over in Santiago on August 31, after the victory of the rebels. On December 26, 1891, with the support of the Conservative, Liberal, and Radical parties, he took office as constitutional president.
After leaving the presidency in 1896, Jorge Montt returned to active navy service. He did not retire until 1913.