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Antonio de los Reyes Correa (c. 1665 – June 9, 1758), also known as El Capitán Correa, was a Puerto Rican native who served as a Captain in the Spanish Army. Correa and his men defended the town of Arecibo from a British invasion in 1702.


Early years

Correa was born in
Arecibo, Puerto Rico Arecibo (; ) is a city and municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta and Florida. It is about west of San Juan, the ...
, to Jose Rodriguez Correa and Francisca Rodriguez de Valdez Colon. He was in charge of a small militia whose job was to protect the city of Arecibo from any attack which the city may be subject to, either by pirates or foreign forces. His claim to fame came as a result of his defense of the city from an attack and possible invasion by the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
on August 5, 1702."Antonio de los Reyes Correa, El Capitán"; by Dennis de Jesús Rodríguez; Published in 2002, Sociedad Histórica Puerto Rico (San Juan, P.R);


Defense of Arecibo

During the early part of the 18th century the United Kingdom was at war with Spain, and Great Britain ordered an attack on the Spanish possessions in the New World. On August 5, 1702, two British warships approached the coastal town of Arecibo. Two smaller boats with a company of British soldiers landed on Arecibo's beach. The Puerto Rican militia - headed by Correa - had only thirty men, armed with just spears and
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s, who fought the British, who were better armed with muskets and
sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
s. At the end of the battle there were twenty-two British dead on land and 8 at sea, including the captain in charge of the landing troops, who had died at the hands of Correa. Correa himself was wounded but the British left and the city of Arecibo was saved. As a result Correa was declared a Puerto Rican national hero.


Honors and later years

Correa was awarded " La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie" (The Gold Medal of the Royal Image), by King Philip V of
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...
and given the title of "Captain of Infantry" on September 23, 1703. It was within Spanish tradition to name its Captain of Infantry to the position of Mayor. Correa served as temporary mayor of Arecibo from 1700 to 1701 and then as official mayor from 1701 to 1705. He also served as mayor from 1710 to 1714 and from 1716 to 1744. Capt. Antonio de los Reyes Correa, who was married to Estephania Rodríguez de Matos y Colón, died on June 9, 1758. Arecibo is known as the "Villa del Capitan Correa" (Captain Correa's Village), an honour bestowed by the people of the town. The people of Arecibo also honored Correa by including a gold colored belt in their Coat of Arms with the words "Muy Leal", which means "Very Loyal", in representation of Correa. On January 8, 2004, the
Government of Puerto Rico The government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government with separation of powers, subject to the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States.Ponce a street was named after him. It runs from Barrio Segundo through Barrio Primero and ends in the northern portion of Barrio
Canas Urbano Canas Urbano is one of the 31 barrio of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Machuelo Abajo, Magueyes Urbano, Portugués Urbano, and San Antón, Canas Urbano is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are ...
at Avenida Las Américas.


See also

* List of Puerto Ricans *
List of Puerto Rican military personnel Throughout history Puerto Ricans, including people of Puerto Rican descent, have gained notability as members of the military. They have served and have fought for many countries, such as Canada, Cuba, England, Mexico, Spain, the United States an ...


References


External links

* One of the earliest works of Puerto Rican literature, features a poem ""
Captain Correa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reyes Correa 1665 births 1758 deaths Puerto Rican Army personnel People from Arecibo, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican military officers 17th-century Puerto Rican people 18th-century Puerto Rican people Colonial Puerto Rico