Mariano Bustamante

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Mariano Ernesto Bustamante
Peruvian hero during the War of the Pacific
Born August 5, 1831
Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru
Died June 7, 1879
Arica, Tarapaca, Peru

Mariano Ernesto Bustamante (August 5, 1831 - June 7, 1879), was a Peruvian hero of the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru.

A native of Arequipa, Peru, who joined the army to fight as a colonel during the war, he died on June 7, 1879, during the Battle of Arica along with 50% of the men that defended Arica. He was the Chief of Detail for Colonel Alfonso Ugarte under the garrison commanded by Colonel Francisco Bolognesi.

He was one of the Peruvian officers who, on the eve of the battle, had gallantly rejected an offer to surrender the garrison to the Chilean army, and prompted Colonel Bolognesi to vow to the Chilean emissary that he would defend the garrison to the last cartridge.