Biography of Blas de Lezo
Jorge de Ramos Durántez
BIOGRAPHY OF BLAS DE LEZO Y LAVARRIETA
Blas de Lezo was a Spanish admiral and one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy. He also knew as “Patapalo” (Pepleg), and later as “Mediohombre” (half-man) for the many wounds suffered in his long military life. He is best known for leading the defense of Cartagena in 1741.
He was born in Pasajes, Guipuzcoa, Spain on February 3 in 1689 and started his naval career in the French Navy in 1701 as a midshipman. A few year later he fought in the War of Succession at the battle of Velez-Málaga. There he lost his left leg when he received a cannon shot. During de the defense of Toulon he lost his left eye and, in 1714, he lost his right arm in Barcelona.
He was married in Perú in 1725 at the end of the War of Succession. The King promoted him to General Lieutenant of the Navy in 1734 and commissioned to America as General Commander of Cartagena de Indias, a city that he had to defend against the British admiral Vernon in 1741. Where Spanish forces defeated a far superior contingent of British maritime and ground forces
The defeat of the British invasion force could ensure the presence of Spanish Empire in the Americas.
After de the battle, Blas de Lezo caught the plague and died at Cartagena de Indias. The site of his grave is
BIOGRAPHY OF BLAS DE LEZO Y LAVARRIETA
Blas de Lezo was a Spanish admiral and one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy. He also knew as “Patapalo” (Pepleg), and later as “Mediohombre” (half-man) for the many wounds suffered in his long military life. He is best known for leading the defense of Cartagena in 1741.
He was born in Pasajes, Guipuzcoa, Spain on February 3 in 1689 and started his naval career in the French Navy in 1701 as a midshipman. A few year later he fought in the War of Succession at the battle of Velez-Málaga. There he lost his left leg when he received a cannon shot. During de the defense of Toulon he lost his left eye and, in 1714, he lost his right arm in Barcelona.
He was married in Perú in 1725 at the end of the War of Succession. The King promoted him to General Lieutenant of the Navy in 1734 and commissioned to America as General Commander of Cartagena de Indias, a city that he had to defend against the British admiral Vernon in 1741. Where Spanish forces defeated a far superior contingent of British maritime and ground forces
The defeat of the British invasion force could ensure the presence of Spanish Empire in the Americas.
After de the battle, Blas de Lezo caught the plague and died at Cartagena de Indias. The site of his grave is