Bernardo de Gálvez-The Forgotten Hero
Everything started in 1761 with the “Bourbon Family Compact” between France and Spain, this agreement stated that any nation, which attacked either nation, attacked both; and that when one of the countries was at war, it could call upon the other for military or naval aid. This formed an alliance and friendship between France and Spain.
Bernardo de Gálvez was born from a poor noble family in Macharaviaya in the province of Malaga, Spain on July 23, 1746. Soon the young Gálvez joined the Spanish army and in 1764, at the age of 16 he became a captain and continued advancing. In 1776, he came as colonel to Louisiana to subdue the Apaches who preyed on Spanish settlements in the area. He was wounded twice in these battles, but later in the same year, at 29 years of age he became governor of Louisiana.
Even before Spain entered the war against Great Britain, Gálvez was secretly providing guns, clothes, food, money, supplies, and munitions to George Washington’s Continental Army and others as well. He also eliminated British influence from the Mississippi River and secured it, allowing French, Spanish and American ships to travel safely with supplies for the war. When Spain officially declared war on the British, Gálvez was ordered to attack and capture British forts and settlements in west Florida and to provide more help to the colonists.
Immediately, Gálvez led a multinational army made up of Native Americans, French, Spanish, Mexican, Hispanic, free slave soldiers and with it he drove the British out. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson sent Gálvez letters thanking for his help and requesting more supplies. He defeated the British and conquered all of West Florida, the territory lost to England after the French and Indian War. One of his biggest achievements was the conquest of Pensacola, in Florida, in May 1781, where he fought a fortified fort with large enemy fire from Native American and British soldiers.
At the end of the war, he returned to Spain as a hero and early in 1785, Gálvez was appointed captain-general of Cuba, Louisiana and the Floridas by Spanish King Carlos 3. Upon the death of his father, Don Mathias de Gálvez, Bernardo was named Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) where like in the war; spent his money in helping its poor people. On November 30, 1786, Gálvez resigns on his occupation because of sickness and on October 15, 1786, Gálvez sadly dies (historians think from malaria) a month later at Tacubaza, aged 38.
Everything started in 1761 with the “Bourbon Family Compact” between France and Spain, this agreement stated that any nation, which attacked either nation, attacked both; and that when one of the countries was at war, it could call upon the other for military or naval aid. This formed an alliance and friendship between France and Spain.
Bernardo de Gálvez was born from a poor noble family in Macharaviaya in the province of Malaga, Spain on July 23, 1746. Soon the young Gálvez joined the Spanish army and in 1764, at the age of 16 he became a captain and continued advancing. In 1776, he came as colonel to Louisiana to subdue the Apaches who preyed on Spanish settlements in the area. He was wounded twice in these battles, but later in the same year, at 29 years of age he became governor of Louisiana.
Even before Spain entered the war against Great Britain, Gálvez was secretly providing guns, clothes, food, money, supplies, and munitions to George Washington’s Continental Army and others as well. He also eliminated British influence from the Mississippi River and secured it, allowing French, Spanish and American ships to travel safely with supplies for the war. When Spain officially declared war on the British, Gálvez was ordered to attack and capture British forts and settlements in west Florida and to provide more help to the colonists.
Immediately, Gálvez led a multinational army made up of Native Americans, French, Spanish, Mexican, Hispanic, free slave soldiers and with it he drove the British out. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson sent Gálvez letters thanking for his help and requesting more supplies. He defeated the British and conquered all of West Florida, the territory lost to England after the French and Indian War. One of his biggest achievements was the conquest of Pensacola, in Florida, in May 1781, where he fought a fortified fort with large enemy fire from Native American and British soldiers.
At the end of the war, he returned to Spain as a hero and early in 1785, Gálvez was appointed captain-general of Cuba, Louisiana and the Floridas by Spanish King Carlos 3. Upon the death of his father, Don Mathias de Gálvez, Bernardo was named Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) where like in the war; spent his money in helping its poor people. On November 30, 1786, Gálvez resigns on his occupation because of sickness and on October 15, 1786, Gálvez sadly dies (historians think from malaria) a month later at Tacubaza, aged 38.
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