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Sebastián de Eslava y Lazaga (January 19, 1685 – June 21, 1759) was a Spanish general and colonial official. From April 24, 1740 to November 6, 1749 he was viceroy of the newly reestablished
Viceroyalty of New Granada The Viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada ( ), also called Viceroyalty of New Granada or Viceroyalty of Santa Fe, was the name given on 27 May 1717 to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire in northern South America, corresponding to modern ...
. He was governing the viceregal at the time of the defeat of British Admiral
Edward Vernon Admiral Edward Vernon (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He had a long and distinguished career, rising to the rank of admiral after 46 years service. As a vice admiral during the War of Jenkins' E ...
at the
Battle of Cartagena de Indias The Battle of Cartagena de Indias () took place during the 1739 to 1748 War of Jenkins' Ear between Spanish Empire, Spain and Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain. The result of long-standing commercial tensions, the war was primarily fough ...
. After his death he was named ''marqués de la Real Defensa de Cartagena de Indias''.


The reestablishment of the Viceroyalty of New Granada

In 1740 the Viceroyalty of the ''Nuevo Reino de Granada'' (New Granada) was reestablished. This part of South America, including what are today the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador, had originally been part of the
Viceroyalty of Peru The Viceroyalty of Peru (), officially known as the Kingdom of Peru (), was a Monarchy of Spain, Spanish imperial provincial administrative district, created in 1542, that originally contained modern-day Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in ...
. It was removed from Peru and established as the separate viceroyalty of New Granada in 1718. However, this first viceregal establishment lasted only from 1718 to 1724. In 1724 it was returned to Peru. There were difficulties governing this large territory from Lima, however. In 1740 New Granada was reestablished as a viceroyalty, for the same reasons as it had originally been established — large distances, growing population, tax collection, defense, and administrative control. In August 1739 Sebastián de Eslava was named the first viceroy of this second incarnation, with express instructions from the Crown to defend the viceregal against British attacks.


Beginning of his term as viceroy

Eslava studied at the Royal Military Academy in
Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
. He was a lieutenant general in the Royal Army of Spain and commander in the
Order of Calatrava The Order of Calatrava (, ) was one of the Spanish military orders, four Spanish military orders and the first Military order (society), military order founded in Kingdom of Castile, Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bu ...
. In April 1740 he arrived at Cartagena de Indias. He remained there for the duration of his term as viceroy, not traveling to the interior. He repaired the Castle of Bocachica and various forts protecting the port. In the Castle of San Lázaro he started a factory of gun carriages and
esplanade An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
s. He took steps to supply arms, ammunition and military training to the Spanish forces. Elsewhere in the viceregal, he built defensive works in
Santa Marta Santa Marta (), officially the Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta (), is a port List of cities in Colombia, city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fou ...
,
Puerto Cabello Puerto Cabello () is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State, about 210 km west of Caracas. As of 2011, the city had a population of around 182,400. The city is home to the largest and busiest port in the count ...
and Gaira. He strengthened the fort at Araya and the Castle of San Antonio in 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 approved the construction of the fort on the islet of Caño de Limones and equipped the presidio of Guayana.


The War of Jenkins' Ear

These steps were necessary because Britain, fighting for the commercial control of America, declared war on Spain in 1739 (the
War of Jenkins' Ear The War of Jenkins' Ear was fought by Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and History of Spain (1700–1808), Spain between 1739 and 1748. The majority of the fighting took place in Viceroyalty of New Granada, New Granada and the Caribbean ...
). The defense of the coast was essential. On November 21, 1739 British Admiral Edward Vernon captured Portobelo, on the Atlantic side of the
Isthmus of Panama The Isthmus of Panama, historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North America, North and South America. The country of Panama is located on the i ...
, which was part of the new Viceroyalty. This was just before Eslava's arrival in Cartagena as viceroy of the colony. After this success, Vernon turned his attention to Cartagena. On March 13, 1741 he blockaded the port with 51 warships, 135 transports, 2,000 cannon and more than 28,000 men, possibly the strongest fleet ever assembled up to this time. The city was defended by the Spanish Admiral
Blas de Lezo Admiral Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (3 February 1689 – 7 September 1741) was a Spanish Navy officer best known for his victory at the 1741 Battle of Cartagena de Indias, where forces under his command defeated a large British invasion force u ...
, who had at his command 3,000 Spanish troops, 600 Indian archers, and six
Ships of the Line A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactic known as the line of battle, which involved the two column ...
. He also relied on his careful preparations and the sturdy fortifications of the city. On the night of April 19, as part of the
battle of Cartagena de Indias The Battle of Cartagena de Indias () took place during the 1739 to 1748 War of Jenkins' Ear between Spanish Empire, Spain and Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain. The result of long-standing commercial tensions, the war was primarily fough ...
, the British began a major assault on the wall of the fort of San Felipe. However, the attackers soon found that their scaling ladders were shorter than the walls they were attacking. The British were unable to advance and impeded from retreating by the equipment they carried. The Spanish opened fire on them, and then counterattacked outside the walls with bayonets. The carnage was great, and the remaining British soldiers were forced to remain on board their ships, with provisions running out. Vernon finally had to raise the blockade and return to Jamaica. Eight thousand British were said to have died,Fortescue, J. W. ''A History of the British Army'', MacMillan, London, 1899, Vol. II, pp. 72-79, gives a detailed account of the rapid and devastating withering away of the land forces to disease. By 7 May, only 1700 men were fit for service and no more than 1000 in condition to land against the enemy and within a month of leaving Cartagena 1100 died. British strength was reduced to 1400 and American to 1300. against only 1,000 Spanish. Blas de Lezo, who had already lost a leg, an eye and an arm in other battles, lost his life after this one, dying of disease.


After the siege of Cartagena

During his administration, Viceroy Eslava founded hospitals and towns, constructed roads, promoted the pacification of the Motilones Indians, and contributed arms, money and provisions to defend some cities (like
Pamplona Pamplona (; ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Navarre, Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. Lying at near above sea level, the city (and the wider Cuenca de Pamplona) is located on the flood pl ...
and San Faustino), and to maintain navigation on the Zulia River. He built 20 churches, repaired and enlarged others, protected the established missions and organized those of Darién, in Panama. He improved the finances of the colony and the administration of justice. He left New Granada for Spain on February 23, 1750. After his return to Spain, King Ferdinand VI named him captain general of
Andalucia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It i ...
, and later, on July 2, 1754, minister of war. In 1760 he was posthumously granted the title of ''marqués de la Real Defensa de Cartagena de Indias''.


Bibliography

* Colmenares, Germán (Ed.) ''Relaciones e informes de Los gobernantes de la Nueva Granada''. Bogotá: Banco Popular, 1989. * Restrepo Sáenz, José María. ''Biografías de los mandatarios y ministros de la Real Audiencia (1671 a 1819)''. Bogotá: Academia Colombiana de Historia, 1952. * Rodríguez Maldonado, Carlos. "Don Sebastián de Eslava y don Blas de Lezo". ''Boletín de historia y antigüedades'' (Bogota). Vol. 39, No. 447-448 (Jan./Feb. 1952), pp. 76–84. * Beatson, Robert. ''Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, from 1727 to 1783'', London, 1804. * Hart, Francis Russle. ''Admirals of the Caribbean'', Boston, 1922. * Fortescue, J. W. ''A History of the British Army'', MacMillan, London, 1899, Vol. II.


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eslava, Sebastian de 1685 births 1759 deaths Marquesses of Spain Viceroys of New Granada Spanish generals