Juan de Dios Aldea

His childhood was spent in Santiago with his paternal grandparents, Juan de Dios Aldea and Maria Antonieta Contreras.

In October he was back in the Thalaba and in December returned to the Company of the Battalion, having transferred to the post of Guard of the Municipality of Valparaíso.

Due to his impeccable service record, upon the declaration of the War of the Pacific, he was assigned to the corvette Esmeralda.

After the lookout of the Covadonga spotted the Peruvian ships Huascar and Independencia, Aldea joined the gunners and took over their combat post.

After an hour of combat, the Peruvian Commander Miguel Grau Seminario ordered the Huascar to ram the Esmeralda.

Statue of Juan de Dios Aldea on the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique, Valparaíso
Naval Battle of Iquique during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884).