Daniel Arellano
Daniel Benito Arellano Macleod was a Chilean naval officer who held the rank of Rear admiral in the Chilean Navy.
He served as a minister of state during the final months of President Salvador Allende’s government.
Family
He was born in Iquique on 16 May 1918, the son of politician Benito Arellano Donoso, who was mayor and councilman of the city, and Arabella Victoria Macleod. He married Josephine Walbaum Wieber, of German descent, in Viña del Mar on 9 February 1946, with whom he had four children: Daniel Federico, Francisco José, Irene Patricia and Verónica Josefina.Naval career
He entered the Arturo Prat Naval Academy on 25 February 1935, graduating on 1 January 1939 with the rank of midshipman. He was promoted to midshipman in 1940, to sublieutenant in 1943, and to lieutenant in 1947. He served as head of the Chilean naval mission in the United States.On 24 October 1951, he was promoted to lieutenant commander, on 1 December 1952 to commander and on 20 April 1965 to captain. On 12 January 1970, while in charge of the naval base of Talcahuano, President Eduardo Frei Montalva promoted him to rear admiral.
In 1972, during Allende’s government, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Chilean fleet. On 31 January 1973, he entered the cabinet as Minister of Public Works and Transport, becoming the fourth military officer to join the Popular Unity cabinet. He left office on 27 March 1973. Later, on 28 August 1973, he was appointed Minister of Finance, a position he held until the coup d’état of 11 September 1973.
He was decorated with the Navy Military Medal, the Great Star of Military Merit, the Naval Merit Cross and the Presidential Decoration of Chile. Abroad, he was awarded the Order of May, Commander class, and the Legion of Merit.
After 39 years of service, on 12 March 1974 he retired from the Chilean Navy. He died in Viña del Mar on 23 December 2015.