Military officer; born in
Caracas, Venezuela, June 9, 1756; became a captain in the
Spanish army; and served in the
United States in 1779 and 1781.
He was a born agitator and revolutionist, and tried to free Spanish-American colonies from the
Spanish yoke, presenting his projects to various
European courts.
In the
French Revolution he acquired a high reputation as a military leader, especially as an engineer and tactician, and became a general of division.
Twice he was expelled from
France as a dangerous intriguer.
About the beginning of 1806 he was again in the
United States, for the purpose of fitting out an expedition having for its object the revolutionizing of the
Spanish province of
Caracas, which now constitutes the republic of
Venezuela.
At that time there was much irritation of feeling between the
United States and
Spain, and the government officers averted their eyes from
Miranda's doings.
His preparations for the expedition were made at New York, while he resided at
Washington, D. C., and was on intimate social relations with
President Jefferson and
Secretary Madison.
He chartered the ship
Leander at New York, and she sailed from that port (February) with arms and about 250 men. He was joined by other vessels.
The expedition reached
Caracas in safety, and, with the help of the
English in that quarter,
Miranda took possession of two or three towns on the coast.
The people would not listen to his offers of liberty.
The Spaniards captured two transports, with about sixty
Americans, and the expedition ended in failure about three months after the
Leander left New York.
Miranda escaped to
Carthagena, when
Bolivar delivered him to the Spaniards, who confined him in a dungeon in
Cadiz till his death, July 14, 1816.
