Pedro Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro (1787-1845) was a Mexican military, politician, and sailor who participated in the well-known Battle of Trafalgar. He served as lieutenant, deputy, lieutenant governor, governor of Yucatán, frigate lieutenant, ship lieutenant, and frigate captain. It had great significance in the Mexican wars of independence with the royalists.
Considered the founder of the Mexican navy, he was present on the day of the capitulation of the last stronghold of Spain in the fort of San Juan de Ulúa, on November 23, 1825, the day on which Sainz de Baranda was in command of the School Mexican Naval.
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Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro was a Creole from New Spain, that is, with a father born in Europe and a Mexican mother. His father had the position of Minister of the Royal Treasury in San Francisco de Campeche, capital of the State of Campeche, a territory that is located southeast of the Yucatan peninsula. His mother, María Josefa Borreiro de la Fuente, was born in this rich port of fishing and agricultural activities.
While still a child, at the age of 11, his parents wanted to send him to Spain to begin his career as a sailor in Ferrol, one of the forts of dictator Francisco Franco during the 20th century.
In Spain he had the opportunity to sail on several ships before taking over a position as a marine guard in the Company of the Department of Ferrol. In 1804, he obtained the rank of officer lieutenant of a frigate for his good grades and his excellent performance in all marine tasks.
On the ship of Santa Ana, around 1805, the Royal Sovereign fought in the Battle of Trafalgar, a famous fight that faced Spain and France to try to dissolve the great influence that Napoleon Bonaparte was having throughout the European territory.
There he suffered serious injuries but the victory was on the part of the English. Sainz de Baranda was transferred injured to the hospital and later to San Fulgencio. There, in gratitude for his work, by order of Carlos IV he was promoted to second lieutenant.
In 1806, being already in Cadiz, he was given command of gunboat number 44, which he took advantage of several nights to harass the English.
I return to Mexico
The young Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro during his stay in Cadiz has already begun to hear about the new constitutions and the prolegomena of Mexican independence.
Although his education - all adolescence and early adulthood - took place in Spain, he knew that his origin was in America.
He meditated on his origin: where he was born, where his family and his heart were. He came to the conclusion that all his affections were in the American continent, so he asked to return to Mexico in 1821, when he was 21 years old.
His return trip began in Caracas, then went to Cuba until he finally arrived in Campeche. After a while he decided to enlist as a sailor again and returned to Spain.
Mexican independency
Sainz de Baranda was knowledgeable about fighting, tides, and weapons. He had matured very young because since he was almost 11 years old he was studying to be a sailor. Although Mexico had signed its independence in 1821, a small but significant stronghold - San Juan de Ulúa - was still in the hands of the Spanish.
In the famous Castillo de San Juan the Spanish flag was still flying. This place, also a fortress, was a prison until the government of Venustiano Carranza. The Spaniards received provisions by sea from Cuba and Spain, so they still had some power.
Upon seeing these conditions, Sainz de Baranda is appointed general of the Department of the Navy of Veracruz. In this position he was able to rearm the Mexican navy and besieged and attacked the Spanish ships that arrived, filling the Mexican people with glory.
Public charges
After 1830 Pedro Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro left the adventurous side of the navy aside to dedicate himself to politics. He was already 43 years old and wanted a quieter life, away from gunboats and life overseas.
This is how he was able to access the post of governor of Yucatán on two occasions. Ten years later, he was thinking of starting his own company and decided on a cotton yarn and fabric factory.
But the time came when he left these positions and decided, three years before dying, to collaborate with the American John Lloyd Stephens, who had also been present in the planning of the Panama Railroad, in his research work around the Mayan civilization. subject that he was passionate about at the moment.
He died in the city of Mérida on September 16, 1845. His remains were deposited in the Cathedral of Campeche, and in March 1987 they were moved to the Rotunda of Illustrious Men, in Mexico City.
Posthumous honors
Although for many years the sailor remained in oblivion, despite his tireless fight against the Spaniards of San Juan de Ulúa, he arrived on March 13, 1925 in which in the Castle of this small Mexican islet, in his plaza de arms, they decided to make a bronze plaque that pays posthumous honors to this hero of the homeland, a native of Campeche.
Later, the government decided to move his remains from the Cathedral of Campeche to the Rotunda of Illustrious Men, in Mexico City. On March 20, 1987, the burial was carried out to honor him.
In addition to this, his name was inscribed, in gold letters, in the room where the Veracruz Congress holds its sessions. In this way, the Mexican people will not forget the legacy of the illustrious country man, who from a very young age set sail the waters of the Pacific to become a sailor and, years later, fight for the freedom of the Mexican people.
Honor, decision and a sense of belonging were his weapons to do so and time has rewarded him by being part of the illustrious history.
References
- Todoavante.es (2016). Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro, Pedro Biography. Recovered from todoavante.es
- Campeche State Government Portal (sf). Campeche - Pedro Sainz de Baranda and Borreyro. Recovered from web.archive.org
- Mexican Institute of Radio (2015). December 16, 1845, Pedro Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro died. Recovered from imer.mx
- Electoral Institute of the State of Campeche (nd). Illustrious character - Pedro Sainz de Baranda y Borreiro. Recovered from ieec.org.mx
- Curi, M. (nd). Commander. Pedro Sainz de Baranda y Borreyro (1787-1845). Recovered from gob.mx