Gutierre de Hevia
Encyclopedia
Don Gutierre de Hevia y Valdés (died December 2, 1772) was a Spanish military man, who was head of the Spanish Marine Corps and present when Spain lost Havana during the British expedition against Cuba
.
, Italy
, he joined the Spanish Navy in 1720. In Cadiz
, he was involved in a duel and killed his opponent. He was trialed but acquitted, and left for the Americas. He made career in the Spanish Marine Corps
and was the third man to set foot on enemy territory during the expedition to Oran
in 1732.
In 1740, he served in the successful defense of Cartagena
under general Blas de Lezo
against a British invasion force under Admiral Edward Vernon
, and was wounded.
In 1747 he received his first command of the warship Nueva España. In 1759 he commanded the Fenix that was part of the convoy that brought Charles III
, the new King of Spain, from Naples to Spain. For this, he received the titles of Marqués del Real Transporte and Vizconde del Buen Viaje, and became Squadron leader.
In 1761, he was sent to Havana with a fleet of 12 ships to defend the city against an expected attack by the British, as Spain had entered the Seven Years' War
that year, on the side of France.
On June 6, 1762, a powerful English invasion force under George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle
began the siege of Havana. The fleet of Hevia played no part in the battle, all the guns and men were disembarked and used to defend the forts. The city was finally taken on 13 August. Hevia neglected to burn his fleet, which fell intact in the hands of the British.
Hevia and the surviving Spanish troops were transported to Spain. On his arrival, the Madrid government caused him to be tried by a court-martial. He was stripped of his titles and condemned to house arrest for 10 years. Thanks to the influence of his father-in-law don Juan José Navarro
, Marqués de la Victoria, he was pardoned on September 17, 1765 on the occasion of the wedding of Charles, the Prince of Asturia
.
He was reinstated as head of the Marine Corps and was based in Cadiz. He died in 1772 at Isla de León
.
British expedition against Cuba
The Battle of Havana was a military action from March to August 1762, as part of the Seven Years' War. British forces besieged and captured the city of Havana, which at the time was an important Spanish naval base in the Caribbean, and dealt a serious blow to the Spanish navy...
.
Biography
Born at TortonaTortona
Tortona is a comune of Piemonte, in the Province of Alessandria, Italy. Tortona is sited on the right bank of the Scrivia between the plain of Marengo and the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he joined the Spanish Navy in 1720. In Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, he was involved in a duel and killed his opponent. He was trialed but acquitted, and left for the Americas. He made career in the Spanish Marine Corps
Infanteria de Marina
The Spanish Navy Marines is a corps within the Spanish Navy responsible for providing amphibious warfare from the sea utilizing naval platforms and resources...
and was the third man to set foot on enemy territory during the expedition to Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
in 1732.
In 1740, he served in the successful defense of Cartagena
Battle of Cartagena de Indias
The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was an amphibious military engagement between the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon and those of Spain under Admiral Blas de Lezo. It took place at the city of Cartagena de Indias in March 1741, in present-day Colombia...
under general Blas de Lezo
Blas de Lezo
Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta , also known as "Patapalo" , and later as "Mediohombre" for the many wounds suffered in his long military life, was a Spanish admiral, and one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy...
against a British invasion force under Admiral Edward Vernon
Edward Vernon
Edward Vernon was an English naval officer. Vernon was born in Westminster, England and went to Westminster School. He joined the Navy in 1700 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1702 and served on several different ships for the next five years...
, and was wounded.
In 1747 he received his first command of the warship Nueva España. In 1759 he commanded the Fenix that was part of the convoy that brought Charles III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
, the new King of Spain, from Naples to Spain. For this, he received the titles of Marqués del Real Transporte and Vizconde del Buen Viaje, and became Squadron leader.
In 1761, he was sent to Havana with a fleet of 12 ships to defend the city against an expected attack by the British, as Spain had entered the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
that year, on the side of France.
On June 6, 1762, a powerful English invasion force under George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle
George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle
General George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle KG PC , styled Viscount Bury until 1754, was a British soldier nobleman best known for his capture of Havana in 1762 during the Seven Years' War.-Early life:...
began the siege of Havana. The fleet of Hevia played no part in the battle, all the guns and men were disembarked and used to defend the forts. The city was finally taken on 13 August. Hevia neglected to burn his fleet, which fell intact in the hands of the British.
Hevia and the surviving Spanish troops were transported to Spain. On his arrival, the Madrid government caused him to be tried by a court-martial. He was stripped of his titles and condemned to house arrest for 10 years. Thanks to the influence of his father-in-law don Juan José Navarro
Juan José Navarro
Juan José de Navarro Viana y Búfalo was a Spanish military officer, Marqués de la Victoria and first Captain General of the Spanish Navy....
, Marqués de la Victoria, he was pardoned on September 17, 1765 on the occasion of the wedding of Charles, the Prince of Asturia
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
.
He was reinstated as head of the Marine Corps and was based in Cadiz. He died in 1772 at Isla de León
Isla de León
Isla de León is a historical name for the piece of land between the city of Cádiz and the Spanish peninsula.In 1813 it was renamed San Fernando in honour of King Fernando VII of Spain for his courage in the defense of the city during the Siege of Cádiz by the French....
.