Augusto Jos� Ram�n Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet, was dictator of Chile between 1973 and 1990 and Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army from 1973 to 1998. He was also president of the Government Junta of Chile between 1973 and 1981. Pinochet assumed power in Chile following a United States-backed coup d'�tat on 11 September 1973 that overthrew the elected socialist Unidad Popular government of President Salvador Allende and ended civilian rule. Several academics have stated that the support of the U.S.A. was crucial to the coup and the consolidation of power afterward. Pinochet had been promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Army by Allende on 23 August 1973, having been its General Chief of Staff since early 1972. In December 1974, the ruling military junta appointed Pinochet President of Chile by joint decree, although not with the support of one of the coup's instigators, Air Force General Gustavo Leigh. From its beginning, the new military government implemented harsh measures against its perceived opponents. [More at Wikipedia]

November 25th, 1915 in Valparaíso  /  Died:   Dec 10th, 2006 - at the age of 91, complications following heart surgery