Military officer; born in
Cuba in 1834; was educated at
Madrid; and became a colonel when twenty-nine years old. For a time he served in
Morocco and
Cuba, and returned to
Spain, with the rank of brigadier-general, in 1870, and took part in putting down the Carlist insurrection.
Later he declared against the republic and was imprisoned as a conspirator, but after requesting to serve in the Liberal army he was set free, and given the command of a division under
Concha.
He took part in the battles of Los Munecas and Galdames, and raised the siege of
Bilbao.
Returning to
Madrid he espoused the cause of Alfonso XII., and with
Jovellar succeeded in placing the royal heir on the throne.
He was next sent into the disturbed territory of Catalonia, which he pacified in less than a month.
In 1876 he
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ended the civil war by defeating
Don Carlos at Peña de
la Plata, for which he
was appointed a captain-general.
In the following year he was ordered to
Cuba, to combat the insurrection, and brought about a cessation of hostilities by pledging the Cubans a more liberal government.
This pledge he made a strenuous effort to have kept when he became prime minister and minister of war, but the Cortes would not support him, and, feeling his honor violated thereby, he resigned his office (1879). In April, 1895, he was again sent to
Cuba, but was unable to accomplish any practical result, and was recalled in January, following.
In May, 1899, the
Queen Regent appointed him president of the Senate.
He died at
Zarauz, Spain, Sept. 23, 1900.
He was conceded to be the ablest and most humane of the
Spanish generals of his day, and his word, personally, had acceptance everywhere.
Till his death he considered the refusal of the Cortes to carry out the pledge he had given the Cubans in 1877 a stain upon his honor.
