Which minister is commonly credited with Chile's current flag design?

José Ignacio Zenteno, Chile’s Minister of War, is commonly credited with the current Chilean flag’s design.

The flag was adopted by decree on October 18, 1817, during the government of Supreme Director Bernardo O’Higgins. Zenteno is commonly credited with conceiving or approving the design in his ministerial role, while the Spanish military engineer Antonio Arcos is often identified as the person who drew or executed it. Some historians instead give a significant role to Gregorio de Andía y Varela.

That division of credit explains why the question specifies the minister rather than asking for the sole designer. Chile’s flag has two horizontal bands—white above red—with a blue square in the upper hoist and a centered white star. It became a major national emblem during the final phase of the independence struggle.

The flag was publicly used at the oath of independence on February 12, 1818. Its nickname, “La Estrella Solitaria,” means “The Lone Star.” The star, colors and proportions have acquired several patriotic interpretations, but those symbols should not be confused with the disputed question of individual authorship.