José Álvarez de Toledo y Dubois
Encyclopedia
José Álvarez de Toledo y Dubois (1779-1858) was a politician and leader of a military force against Spanish rule in Texas.
Toledo was born in Havana, Cuba. His father, Luis de Toledo y Liche was a native of Seville, Spain. He was educated at the Escuela Naval de Cádiz and then joined the Spanish Navy in 1806. In 1808 he switched to serving in the British Navy.
Toledo was elected a representative of Santo Domingo
to the Cortez at Cadiz. However he favored independence for Spain's American possessions and was exiled in 1811. He next went to the United States
where James Monroe
gave him funds to try and form a revolution in Cuba
.
Along with William Shaler, Toledo then was one of the main backers of Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara in his efforts to invade Texas in 1812. Toledo then published papers against Gutierrez after he set himself up as ruler of Texas in San Antonio and the junta displaced Gutierrez and put Toledo in charge.
Toledo took control of San Antonio on Aug. 1, 1813. He was defeated by the Spanish army at Battle of the Medina on Aug. 18, 1813.
Toledo fled Texas. In 1814 he led an unsuccessful attempt to invade Texas from Louisiana. They made it past the Sabine River but did not make any significant progress.
In 1816 Toledo sought to reconcile himself with the Spanish authorities. He opposed the work of Francisco Xavier Mina that year. He then returned to Spain where he was an advisor to King Fernando VII.
Toledo was born in Havana, Cuba. His father, Luis de Toledo y Liche was a native of Seville, Spain. He was educated at the Escuela Naval de Cádiz and then joined the Spanish Navy in 1806. In 1808 he switched to serving in the British Navy.
Toledo was elected a representative of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
to the Cortez at Cadiz. However he favored independence for Spain's American possessions and was exiled in 1811. He next went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
gave him funds to try and form a revolution in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Along with William Shaler, Toledo then was one of the main backers of Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara in his efforts to invade Texas in 1812. Toledo then published papers against Gutierrez after he set himself up as ruler of Texas in San Antonio and the junta displaced Gutierrez and put Toledo in charge.
Toledo took control of San Antonio on Aug. 1, 1813. He was defeated by the Spanish army at Battle of the Medina on Aug. 18, 1813.
Toledo fled Texas. In 1814 he led an unsuccessful attempt to invade Texas from Louisiana. They made it past the Sabine River but did not make any significant progress.
In 1816 Toledo sought to reconcile himself with the Spanish authorities. He opposed the work of Francisco Xavier Mina that year. He then returned to Spain where he was an advisor to King Fernando VII.
Sources
- Handbook of Texas online article on Toledo
- Davis, William C., The Pirates Laffite and The Treacherous World of The Corsairs of the Gulf. (New York: Harcourt, 2005) p. 141-143