Chilean politician, a member of the Government Junta which ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, representing the country-wide police force, the Carabineros de Chile.
Mendoza was the youngest of the eleven children of Atilio Mendoza Valdebenito, a science teacher and first mayor of La Cisterna, and Amalia Durán, a pianist. In 1938, young César Mendoza began his compulsory military service. In 1940, he matriculated at the Carabineros’ School, from which he was graduated as a second lieutenant the following year. Mendoza worked in different cities during his police career, starting in 1942 as a lieutenant at Molina, Talca, and the Carabineros’ School. He was promoted to captain in 1953, to major in 1959, to lieutenant colonel in 1965, to colonel in 1968, to general in 1970, and to inspector general of the carabineros in 1972. In this position, he eventually formed part of the Government Junta that came into power following the 1973 coup d’état. Of the four members of the Junta (who represented the Chilean Army, Air Force, Navy and Carabineros or National Police), Mendoza was widely considered the one who held the least amount of power and influence, even being derisively referred to as Mendocita.
Mendoza served in the Government Junta until 2 August 1985, when the public outcry from Caso Degollados led to his forced resignation. He was replaced by Rodolfo Stange Oelckers.
A noted horseman, Mendoza won a silver medal in the XV Olympiade of 1952 at Helsinki as a member of the show jumping team.
He died on 13 September 1996, aged 78.
Link to Wikipedia biography