Francisco Esteban Gómez ( Santa Ana, December 26, 1783 –

La Asunción LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...

, August 6, 1853 ) was a

Venezuelan Venezuelans (Spanish language, Spanish: ''venezolanos'') are the Citizenship, citizens identified with the country of Venezuela. This connection may be through citizenship, descent or cultural. For most Venezuelans, many or all of these connect ...

military officer who was active in the

Venezuelan War of Independence The Venezuelan War of Independence (, 1810–1823) was one of the Spanish American wars of independence of the early nineteenth century, when independence movements in South America fought a civil war for secession and against unity of the S ...

. Known as the “patriot commander” of

Margarita Island Margarita Island (, ) is the largest island in the States of Venezuela, Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, situated off the north west coast of the country, in the Caribbean Sea. The capital city of Nueva Esparta, La Asunción, is located on the ...

, he was noted for his participation in the defense of the island against invading Spanish forces. In particular, he is honored today as the hero of the Battle of Matasiete (1817). He started his career as a military officer and achieved the ranks of colonel, then general, major general of the army, and commanded the arms of the province of

Cumaná Cumaná () is the capital city of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located east of Caracas. Cumaná was one of the first cities founded by Spain in the mainland Americas and is the oldest continuously-inhabited Hispanic-established city in Sout ...

. He represented Margarita at the Congress of Cucuta, and was Governor of Margarita Island (1817-1820).

Early life

Gomez was born on December 26, 1783, in Villa Norte (Santa Ana) in the Province of Margarita to Maria Concepcion Gomez. He was baptized at the place of his birth by Father Garcia Migi Fco. He got married in the church of Santa Ana.

Career

Gomez joined the independence movement on May 4, 1810, and this participation invited his persecution by the government which resulted in his staying incognito on the island, in 1812. He accompanied General Juan Bautista Arismendi in the second insurrection of

. This resulted in his arrest in 1815. He was associated with the peace treaty of April 15, 1815 and sided with Arismendi, on November 16, 1815, in the revolt. On May 8, 1816,

Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24July 178317December 1830) was a Venezuelan statesman and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bol ...

promoted him to colonel. During the July 31, 1817 Battle of Matasiete, he fought against General Pablo Morillo. He published the manifesto titled "Great Nations and Generous World" on June 23, 1817. On July 31, 1817, he was promoted as Brigadier General for the successful war campaign of the Battle of Matasiete. In 1830,

José Antonio Páez José Antonio Páez Herrera (; 13 June 1790 – 6 May 1873) was a Venezuelan politician and military officer who served as the president of Venezuela three times. The first as the 5th president from 1830 to 1835, the second as the 8th president ...

made Gomez commander-in weapons of

Maracaibo Maracaibo ( , ; ) is a city and municipality in northwestern Venezuela, on the western shore of the strait that connects Lake Maracaibo to the Gulf of Venezuela. It is the largest city in Venezuela and is List of cities in Venezuela by population ...

. In 1835, the constitutional president of Venezuela, José María Vargas, entrusted Gomez with the Command of Arms of the province of

. In 1837, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Cumaná, Margarita and Barcelona. In 1847 he sought and obtained a certificate as an invalid, but he was reappointed Governor of Margarita in 1853. He died the same year in the building that was the Franciscan Convent of

Legacy

As directed by the President of Venezuela, on February 11, 1876, his mortal remains were transferred to a

funerary urn An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. Describing a vessel as an "urn", as opposed to a vase or other terms, generally reflects its use rather than any particular shape or ...

in the Catedral Nuestra Señora de La Asunción. On July 18, 1880, the urn containing his mortal remains was shifted to Caracas. It was then interred in the National Pantheon of Venezuela on August 20, 1880. Gómez Municipality, Nueva Esparta, birthplace of the victorious general, is named in his honor. The Plaza Francisco Esteban Gomez in Santa Ana honors him with his statue as the hero of the Battle of Matasiere, while his home, located close by, is conserved as a museum.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez, Francisco Esteban 1783 births 1853 deaths People from Nueva Esparta Venezuelan military personnel 19th-century Venezuelan people Governors of Nueva Esparta Candidates for President of Venezuela Viceroyalty of New Granada people