Francisco Vidal Gormaz ( July 1 , 1837 in Santiago , Chile – February 5 , 1907 ) was a Chilean naval officer and hydrographer who explored the coasts of Chile including some river systems and lakes . During the 1850s he explored and surveyed several times Maullín River with Francisco Hudson . Before being lost at sea in 1859 Hudson is thought to have been a major influence on Vidal Gormaz . He participated in the Occupation of the Araucanía performing reconnaissance missions in the coasts of Arauco and Toltén . In 1863 , he was named director of the Maritime School of Ancud ( '' Escuela Maritima de Ancud '' ) . In 1874 , he became the first director of the newly created Hydrographic Office ( '' Oficina Hidrográfica '' ) . In 1884 , he became General Inspector of Lighthouses and participated in the International Meridian Conference . Because of his neutrality during the 1891 Chilean Civil War he was removed from his post as director of the Hydrographic Office . He was named assistant at the Sea Ministry ( Spanish : '' Ministerio de Marina '' ) in 1894 and retired from the navy in 1899
International Meridian Conference
International Meridian Conference
Francisco Vidal Gormaz