Polycarpo Toro Hurtado ( Melipia , February 6, 1856 - Santiago , 1921) - Chilean naval officer and explorer, son of landowners and the commander of an expedition that landed on Easter Island and announced its annexation of Chile in 1888. Received a naval education. Two years later, with the rank of captain, he took part in an expedition to the shores of the Strait of Magellan in order to accelerate the development of the new city of Punta Arenas , which took place in a tough competition with Argentina. In 1875, Thoreau traveled aboard O'Higgins corvette to Easter Island, establishing his first contact with the natives who complained of ill-treatment by members of other expeditions who landed on the island in search of slaves and wealth. Upon his return to Chile, Toro enlisted the support of influential people in order to assert Chilean sovereignty over the island. In 1876 he traveled to England with the rank of senior lieutenant aboard Admiral Koshran. During his long stay in Europe, he took part in various maneuvers of the British Navy in the Mediterranean during the war between Russia and Turkey. At this time, Toro traveled to most of Europe, where he watched the work of the English fleet. He returned to Chile after the outbreak of the Second Pacific War, in which he took a direct part. In 1883, Toro was officially appointed professor at the Naval College. In 1888, Chile officially announced the annexation of Easter Island, increasing its land area by 163 square meters. km