Kaare Olsen
Chilean politician (1908-1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaare Olsen Nielsen (14 June 1908 – 1985) was a Chilean politician who served as a minister.[1]
Kaare Olsen | |
|---|---|
| Ambassador of Chile to the United Kingdom | |
| In office October 1973 – 1980 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Álvaro Bunster |
| Succeeded by | Miguel Schweitzer Walters |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 30 May 1955 – 2 January 1956 | |
| President | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Preceded by | Osvaldo Koch |
| Succeeded by | José Serrano Palma |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 6 April 1955 – 2 June 1955 | |
| President | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Preceded by | Tobías Barros |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Herrera Palacios |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 June 1908 |
| Died | 1985 , Chile |
| Spouse | Dorotht Hornsby |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Arturo Prat Naval Academy |
| Profession | Military officer |
Early life and family
He was born in Iquique, Chile, on 14 June 1908, the son of Norwegian immigrants Harald Einar Olsen and Emilia Matilde Nielsen.[1] He married Dorothy Irene Hornsby von Rau, who was of German descent, and they had two children, Harold Edward and Sara Isabel.[2]
Naval career
He entered the Arturo Prat Naval Academy as a cadet in 1924 and graduated in 1926 with the rank of midshipman. In 1931, holding the rank of lieutenant, he served as an instructor at the academy. From 1937 to 1938, he commanded the patrol vessel Sobenes.[1] From 1939 to 1940, he served as head of studies at the Naval Academy, and the following year became executive officer of the destroyer Orella. He subsequently served as head of the Social Welfare Section at the Talcahuano naval base and as deputy director of the Naval Academy.[1]
From 1948 to 1950, he served abroad as Chilean naval attaché in London, England, having been appointed by President Gabriel González Videla. In January 1950, he was appointed head of a department within the Chilean Navy's Directorate of Personnel. During this period, he was promoted to captain in 1949.[1]
In 1952, he was appointed comptroller of the Chilean Navy and commander of the cruiser Prat. The following year, he served as director of the Naval Academy. Upon his promotion to rear admiral in 1953, he was appointed director of Armaments and Training.[1]
Minister of state
During the second government of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on 30 May 1955, serving until 2 January 1956. During his tenure, other cabinet ministers served as acting foreign minister on several occasions. Osvaldo Koch, the Minister of the Interior, replaced him from 16 June to 4 July 1955, while Arturo Zúñiga Latorre, the Minister of Economy and Commerce, served in his place from 3 to 10 August of that year.
He also served as substitute Minister of Public Education from 6 April to 2 June, replacing Tobías Barros.
Later career
Following the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, under the military dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet, he was appointed Chilean ambassador to the United Kingdom in October 1973. He remained in the diplomatic post until 1980.[2]
He was a member of the Naval Club of Chile. He died in 1985.[2]