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Birth
Augusto Pinochet was born on November 25, 1915. In Valparaíso, Chile. His parents were Augusto Pinochet Vera and Avelina Ugarte Martínez. -
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In the Army
He joined the Chilean Army in 1935 at the age of 20. President Salvador Allende appointed him Commander in Chief in 1973. A month later, Pinochet led the military coup that overthrew Allende. -
Getting Married
On January 30, 1943, Augusto Pinochet married Lucia Hiriart. They had 5 children. Three girls and two boys. -
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Presidential Term
Later in 1973 he became dictator of Chile. Then in 1980 he gave himself an 8-year presidential term. In 1988 he was rejected his candidacy as president after 1990. -
Dictatorship
Pinochet’s free-market policies were credited with maintaining a low rate of inflation and an acceptable rate of economic growth during the 1980’s. In October 1988 he fulfilled his constitutional obligation to hold the plebiscite scheduled. The result was a “no” vote of 55 percent and a “yes” vote of 43 percent. Although rejected by the electorate, Pinochet remained in office until free elections installed a new president. -
Disappearances
In the 1990’s the U.S. and other countries were prompted to release former classified documents concerning Chileans who had disappeared-who were kidnapped and killed by the Pinochet regime. The disclosures brought up details of Operation Colombo, in which more the 100 Chilean leftists disappeared in 1975. -
After Presidency
As commander of the armed forces until 1998, Pinochet frequently thwarted human rights prosecutions against members of the security forces. After stepping down he became a senator for life, a post granted to former presidents under the 1981 constitution. -
Arrested
He became the center of attention when he was arrested in London in October of 1998. A request from Spain for his extradition to stand trial for crimes of genocide and terrorism. Pinochet’s arrest caused tension between the UK and Chile. -
Trouble with the Law
In 2000, Pinochet was still under house arrest in the UK, facing the outcome of legal procedures. But the UK let him go back to Chile but he was in ill health. Chile’s Court of Appeal decided to stop Pinochet from immunity from prosecution. -
Pinochet Dies
In 2002 the Chilean Supreme Court ruled that proceedings against Pinochet should be suspended for good. But then in 2004 the Court of Appeal stripped him of immunity from prosecution. Pinochet died on December 10, 2006, he had never faced any of the court trials.
