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Birth
Augusto Pinochet was born on November 25, 1915. He was born in Valparaíso, Chile. His parents were Augusto Pinochet Vera and Avelina Ugarte Martínez. -
Graduation
Pinochet graduated from the military academy in Santiago in 1936 -
Army Officer
A career army officer, he led the military coup overthrowing the Allende Government in 1973 establishing himself at th head of the ensuing military regime. -
Period: to
Head of Military
Pinochet was the head of Chile's military Government (1974-1990). -
Senator for Life
After stepping down he became senator for life, a post granted to former presidents under the 1981 constitution -
Period: to
President
In 1980 he enacted a constitution giving himself an 8 year presidential term. (1981-1989) -
Commander Pinochet
As commander of the armed forces until 1998, Pinochet frequently thwarted human rights prosecutions against members of the security forces -
Former President
Later in 2000 Pinochet was stripped of his immunity from prosecution which he had enjoyed as former president and was ordered to stand trial on charges of human rights abuses. -
Charges Dropped
The charges were dropped in 2002, however, after Chile's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that he was mentally incapable of defending himself in court. -
Returning home
In January 2002 Pinochet was allowed to return home after a british court ruled that he wa unfit to stand trial
