BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ: BIOGRAPHY AND TRIBUTES - ARTE - 2025

Bernardo de Gálvez (1746-1786) was a Spanish military man recognized for having participated in the Independence of the United States. He was also present at the taking of Portugal, in the campaign of the Seven Years' War, and was governor of Louisiana during his stay in America. There he was the one who promoted trade with France and the territories of New Spain in order to favor the locals.

King Carlos III granted him the title of count for the favors received and the efforts in the capture of Pensacola, also allowed him to engrave the motto "I alone" on his arms. He was also a participant in various confrontations with the English seeking the independence of islands such as Providencia, in the Bahamas.

Bernardo de Gálvez. Mariano Salvador Maella

The two Floridas (West Florida and East Florida) also won for Spain. Once he returned to Madrid, he advised the Spanish government on various international issues, especially issues related to North America.

the beginning

Bernardo de Gálvez was born in Macharaviaya, a small town located in Malaga, on July 23, 1746. Although the town where he was born was very poor, De Gálvez came from a noble family and had uncles with great political positions in Europe and America.

His father was Matías de Gálvez and his mother María Josefa de Madrid. He attended the Ávila Academy, where he studied military science. At just 16 years of age, he participated in the capture of Portugal in 1762.

His mother died when Bernardo was 2 years old. Later his father Matías remarried and had a son, who died in infancy, a matter for which De Gálvez lived as the only child for most of his life. In 1777 he married Marie-Félicité and had three children.

Against the Apaches

Bernardo de Gálvez arrived in America in 1769. His uncle José told him to go to the Chihuahua region to fight the Apaches. Later he obtained the rank of Commander of Arms of Nueva Vizcaya and Sonora.

In 1771 he set out on a campaign with a mixed army of Spanish and Indians to fight against the Apaches. That campaign had dire consequences as he was wounded in the chest and arm with arrows.

Governor of Louisiana

When De Gálvez arrived in Louisiana, the region was sparsely populated, both by Creoles and Indians. His mission was to monitor everything that happened in the British colonies and prepare people for a war against England.

He had to take measures that mainly favored the oligarchy. He also encouraged agriculture but perpetuated the slave trade; in fact, in 1777 he authorized the importation of slaves from Africa.

Smuggling was very common in the area, and De Gálvez was in charge of promoting it and pursuing English trade, to give the French facilities.

Later he tried to win the favor of the Indians by avoiding enslaving them and giving them certain gifts so that they would not attack the Spanish. This earned him the Texas authorities to view his measurements with some suspicion.

Independence of the United States

At the beginning Spain was neutral with the North American wishes for independence. That, however, was a saying, since he did help the rebels with uniforms, ammunition, gunpowder and medicine.

This angered the English, who saw non-neutrality impotent but could not do anything against the benefits that De Gálvez gave to the rebels and the blockade of several British ports.

The day came when Spain declared war on the United Kingdom, on June 21, 1779. De Gálvez planned a campaign to seize four British ports: Pensacola, Mobile, Natchez and Biloxi.

Although the campaign could present shortcomings, since it only had 500 men and two ships, Bernardo emerged triumphant by taking Pensacola, and was remembered as the greatest military achievement of the American Revolution, and the one that lasted the longest, from March 9 to on May 8, 1781.

The victory in these last English strongholds caused them to surrender and the Washington troops were the ones who finally won. Then De Gálvez sailed to Havana where he planned the invasion of Jamaica.

Cuba

Towards the year 1875 he was appointed captain general and governor in Cuba, after his campaign in Jamaica. He was also appointed viceroy of New Spain and had to travel to Mexico, to replace his father in that position because he was ill.

Skillful as always, he won both the favor of the citizens and the privileged classes by promoting bullfights, dances and treats. He also had to overcome some problems, such as a shortage of corn and an epidemic that claimed the lives of thousands of locals. Likewise, he censored some scandals that were taking place in the theater.

Death

His interest in reinforcing frontiers and supporting science was special, as a cultured person that he was, which is why he encouraged the development of botany. After 1786 his health deteriorated; It was difficult for him to even sign the documents. He died that same year, on November 30 in Tacubaya, a town in Mexico City.

Tributes in Pensacola

The name Bernardo de Gálvez is for many today a symbol of victory, of struggle. This Spanish hero already has a statue in the city of Pensacola, United States, and in 2014 the Senate of that country granted him the title of honorary citizen.

The statue is life-size, in bronze, and De Gálvez can be seen on horseback with a hat in hand. Several personalities from local politics were present at the event, as well as a select representation of the province of Malaga and the town where the hero, Macharaviaya, was born.

In Spain, in his hometown, there is also a museum with his name and a study center. In Malaga, for its part, there is a sculptural group that pays tribute to this soldier who left the name of Spain high and obtained so many triumphs thanks to a perfect military action.

References

1. American Battlefield Trust (nd). Bernardo de Gálvez. Recovered from battlefields.org
2. Moeller, J. (sf). Bernardo de Galvez: Biography & Role in the Revolutionary War. Recovered from study.com
3. Luque, F. (2018). Bernardo de Gálvez y Gallardo. Recovered from Asociacionbernardodegalvez.es
4. Sánchez de Mora, A. (sf). Bernardo de Gálvez and the independence of the United States. Recovered from mecd.gob.es
5. Trillo, M. (2018). The hero Bernardo de Gálvez receives in Pensacola (USA) the tribute that Spain does not give him. Recovered from abc.es