This article is about the Chilean Army officer killed in the War of the Pacific. For the Chilean Army officer who in 1973 attempted to carry out a military coup, see Roberto Souper.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Souper and the second or maternal family name is Howard.
Colonel Robert Souper Howard (September 9, 1818 – January 13, 1881) was a Chilean soldier, although born in England, who served in the Chilean Army during most of the War of the Pacific.
Early life
He was born in Harwich, England, the son of William Henry Souper, an army officer on half pay; Philip Dottin Souper was an elder brother.[1] Souper had married Amelia Ann Reinagle (born 1777), daughter of Philip Reinagle the painter, in 1797.[2]
The family later moved across the English Channel, for financial reasons, establishing themselves in Saint-Omer, and then Ghent.[3]
Role in the War of the Pacific
Souper moved to Chile in 1843, to work on a hacienda. Subsequently he purchased a place of his own, in Talca Province.[1]
During the War of the Pacific, Souper joined the Chilean Army a few days before the official declaration of war, on April 3, 1879 as a Captain. He was then selected by Minister Rafael Sotomayor, and was present in the Naval Battle of Angamos.
He became a member of the Army General Staff, and participated in the Battle of Pisagua (November 2, 1879) and the Battle of Dolores (November 19, 1879); helping capture the Peruvian province of Tarapacá, which was effectively separated from the rest of the country.
