Agustín Arturo Prat Chacon Chilean hero

Agustín Arturo Prat Chacon, April 3, 1848 - Iquique, May 21, 1879) was a marine, military and Chilean lawyer.

Participated in the War against Spain, which took part in several battles, including the battle of Papudo in 1865, which was captured the schooner Covadonga, and the Pacific War, where he commanded the Emerald in the naval battle of Iquique, in who died. Chile is considered peak naval hero.

On May 21, 1879, at 6:30 in the morning, the fog cleared, the watchman of the "Covadonga" gave notice of the presence of other ships with the cry "north Smoke". Due to the low fog could not identify newcomers and for a moment thought that he had returned the Chilean navy. Later, at 6:45 am, a sailor managed Covadonga clearly observe the masts of ships and recognized as Peruvians. Given this information, Condell ordered to give a warning shot to the Emerald anchored in port.
At that time the Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau harangue by megaphone to his crew:
-Crew of Huascar, we are in view of Iquique, there are our stricken countrymen of Tarapaca and there is the enemy, still unpunished.It's time to punish him!, Hopefully you will know to do. "
Carlos Condell de la Haza warned Prat and he, seeing the potential difference between them and their enemy, gave to his comrades his famous harangue:

"Men, the uneven! Never been lowered our flag to the enemy, then I hope that this is not the chance. While I'm alive, that flag will fly in place, and I assure you that if I die, my officers know their duty. Chile live!.



Arturo Prat's death transformed him into a symbol of the Chilean nation in its death struggle with his enemies. He was admired for his exploits but not to represent the values ​​of dedication and self sacrifice.
After the end of the war his image was less revered, but resurfaced strongly during the parliamentary period. Facing corruption of the political system, the figure of Prat acquired new piping, civil and personifying virtues of duty, rather than military values​​. He became "the embodiment of a dynamic leadership and spiritual superiority: the man who brought fame to Chile, the warrior who had equaled the feats of the ancient Greeks. For a nation where venality abounded, where a small clique devalued the country's currency and corrupted electoral system, Prat represent the embodiment of civic virtue, a man so dedicated to his duties that no personal reason prevented him from carrying out his duties civic. "
With the passage of time came to symbolize Prat nacional. unit May 21 is a holiday in Chile since 1926 and also became the date of the Annual Account of the President of the Republic before the full Congress.
It was once said that the Japanese Naval Academy there were three busts of Horatio Nelson, Arturo Prat Chacon and Heihachirō Tōgō. However, this has not been proven conclusively. There are no images of these three busts together at the Naval Academy japonesa. What does seem certain is that a bust of Prat would have been brought to Japan from Chile in 1966 and placed in a Shinto shrine next to Admiral Tōgō.
It is the only non-Japanese captain honored by Nippon 日本 海军 Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy), and in honor of him, the battle slogan Mikuma Heavy Cruiser (Mogami class) was 大 日本 帝国 海军 (Gloria and Victoria).