Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (1877-1960) was a Chilean general and twice president of the republic. A self-styled populist leader, he attempted to secure for the middle and lower classes a greater voice in the nation's economic and political life.

Carlos Ibáñez was born in Linares on Nov. 3, 1877. Entering the military school in Santiago, he graduated and received his commission. In 1903 he was appointed military adviser to the army of El Salvador, and after his return to Chile he held the directorship of the cavalry school and police academy. He rose to political prominence as a result of the military coup in September 1924 and was one of the leaders of the second coup of January 1925, which restored Arturo Alessandri, the legal president, to power. Ibáñez was rewarded by being named minister of war. He emerged as a spokesman for reformist-minded...