Bernardo de Galvez

Bernardo de Gálvez, was born on July 23, 1746, in Malaga, Spain and died on November 30, 1786, in Mexico City.  He was a Spanish military leader and the general of Spanish forces in New Spain who served as governor of Louisiana and Cuba and as viceroy of New Spain.

Gálvez helped the 13 Colonies in their war for independence and led the Spanish armies against Britain in the Revolutionary War, defeating the British at Pensacola and reconquering Florida for Spain. He spent the last two years of his life as viceroy, succeeding his father, who had been viceroy before him. Galveston, Texas and other places are named for him.

Gálvez was born in Macharaviaya, a village in the province of Malaga, Spain, on July 23, 1746. He studied military sciences at the Academia de Ávila and at the age of 16 he participated in the Spanish Invasion of Portu. During the invasion he was promoted to Lieutenant. He arrived in New Spain, then Mexico, in 1762. As a captain, he fought the Apaches, with his Opata Indian allies. In 1770, he was promoted to commandant of arms of Nueva Vizcaya y Sonora, northern provinces of New Spain, and New Mexico.

In 1772, he returned to Spain with his uncle, Jose de Galvez. Later, he was sent to Pau, France with the Cantabria regiment. There, he learned to speak French, which served him well when he became governor of Louisiana. He was transferred to Seville, in 1775, and then participated in the disastrous expedition of O'Reilly. After capturing the fortress that guarded the city, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then became a professor at the military academy of Ávila.