John Williams Wilson (1798–1857), also known as Juan Guillermos, was an English- Chilean sailor and politician. Born in Bristol, he entered the newly founded Chilean navy in 1824 and rose to the rank of commander. He was appointed

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Talcahuano Talcahuano () (From Mapudungun ''Tralkawenu'', "Thundering Sky") is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile. Geo ...

(1849–1855). He supervised construction of Fuerte Bulnes in 1843, which the government intended for a settlement at the

Strait of Magellan The Strait of Magellan (), also called the Straits of Magellan, is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural ...

Puerto Williams Puerto Williams (; Spanish for "Port Williams") is the city, port and naval base on Navarino Island in Chile. It faces the Beagle Channel. It is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, one of four provinces in the Magellan and Chilean An ...

, founded in 1953, was named for the naval commander.

Early life, education and migration

John Williams Wilson was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...

, England, to a family with a long seafaring tradition. He learned to sail with his father. As a young man, he traveled to

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sou ...

to enter the newly organized

Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy ( es, Armada de Chile) is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso. History Origins and the War ...

in 1824, directed by the British Lord Cochrane. Williams was soon promoted to the rank of

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

. His name was Hispanicized and he was known as ''Juan Guillermos.''"John Williams Wilson"
, Armada website In early 1826 Williams took part in the campaign for the capture of

Chiloé Archipelago The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and t ...

from

royalists A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...

. He was appointed as

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

. In 1827 he was promoted to lieutenant commander

Marriage and family

In 1827 he also married Doña Micaela Rebolledo, born in Chile. The couple had three sons: Horacio, Luis, and

Juan ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronounced differently) in the Isle of Man. In Spanish, ...

, and a daughter Lavinia. Juan Williams had an illustrious navy career.

Rebellion and reinstatement, governor

In 1837, Williams defended General

Ramón Freire Serrano Ramón or Ramon may refer to: People Given name *Ramon (footballer, born 1998), Brazilian footballer * Ramón (footballer, born 1990), Brazilian footballer *Ramón (singer), Spanish singer who represented Spain in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest ...

after he revolted against the government of President General Joaquín Prieto Vial. For this, Williams was temporarily dismissed from the naval service. He was reinstated in 1838, and was available to fight in the second year of the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. A few years later Williams was appointed navy commander and Maritime Governor of Chiloé. In 1843 Don

Manuel Bulnes Prieto Manuel Bulnes Prieto (; December 25, 1799 – October 18, 1866) was a Chilean military and political figure. He was twice President of Chile, from 1841 to 1846 and from 1846 to 1851. Born in Concepción, he served as the president of Chile bet ...

, the President of the Republic, ordered him to mount a naval expedition to Magallanes. After building a fifty-ton, two-gun, schooner called ''

Ancud Ancud () is a city in southern Chile located in the northernmost part of the island and province of Chiloé, in Los Lagos Region. It is the second largest city of Chiloé Archipelago after Castro. The city was established in 1768 to function as ...

'' in a location near

, Commander Williams sailed to the

Straits of Magellan The Strait of Magellan (), also called the Straits of Magellan, is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural pas ...

, arriving on September 21, 1843 at Puerto San Felipe ( Port Famine). He took possession of the Strait of Magellan and adjacent territories on behalf of the Republic of Chile, incorporating them into national territory. The next day the French schooner ''Phaeton'' put in and, after saluting the Chilean flag, departed for Oceania. Williams supervised the construction of Fuerte Bulnes here to secure the Strait. The government intended to develop a settlement, but the location was too isolated, and the population was later moved to

Punta Arenas Punta Arenas (; historically Sandy Point in English) is the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antarctica Chilena. The city was officially renamed as Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to "Punta Are ...

. After being destroyed at the time to prevent other uses, the fort was reconstructed in the 20th century and is designated as a national monument. As a reward for his service, Williams was appointed as

(1849–1855). He died at age 59 in

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

on 14 September 1857.

Legacy and honours

*The town of

Isla Navarino Navarino Island () is a Chilean island located between Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, to the north, and Cape Horn, to the south. The island forms part of the Commune of Cabo de Hornos, the southernmost commune in Chile and in the world, belon ...

, founded in 1953 as a navy base, is named after him. *

Juan Guillermos Island Juan Guillermos Island (also known as ''Isla Esmeralda'') is a Chilean island in the Queen Adelaide Archipelago in Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region. It is named after the English Captain John Williams Wilson.''Stuardosatyrus williamsianus'' (Butler, 1868) is named for him as well.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams Rebolledo, Juan Chilean people of English descent 1798 births 1857 deaths English emigrants to Chile English sailors People from Bristol Chilean Navy personnel of the War of the Confederation Chilean Navy officers 19th-century Chilean Navy personnel