Andrés de Pez facts for kids
Andrés de Pez y Malzarraga (born 1657 – died May 7, 1723) was an important Spanish Naval commander. He is known as the founder of Pensacola, Florida.
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Andrés de Pez was born in Cádiz, Spain, in 1657. His family had a strong connection to the navy; both his father and older brother were Spanish Naval captains. Andrés followed in their footsteps, joining the Spanish Navy at just 16 years old. He quickly began sailing back and forth to the Americas.
In 1676, he fought against the French in a big battle called the Battle of Palermo. Sadly, both his brother and father were killed in this battle. After this, Andrés de Pez became a company commander in the Caribbean. His job was to protect Spanish ships and colonies from foreign attackers and pirates. He became known for being very brave and effective, even though he was wounded five times.
Exploring and Founding Pensacola
Andrés de Pez was chosen for a special mission: to explore and claim the mostly unknown coasts of the northern Gulf of Mexico. He was second-in-command on three of these important trips between 1688 and 1689. During these voyages, he saw how useful Pensacola Bay could be. It was a deep bay that could be easily defended from attacks by land or sea.
Pez then sailed back to Spain to convince the War Council that a strong base was needed at Pensacola Bay. After a lot of discussion and some disagreement, he finally got the money for an official exploration of the bay. He was also promoted to the rank of admiral. Admiral de Pez returned to New Spain (which is now Mexico) in the fall of 1692. There, he started planning the expedition that would lead to the first successful European settlement in Pensacola.
On March 25, 1693, de Pez set sail from Veracruz. With him was a famous scientist and mapmaker named Don Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora. They had 120 sailors and 20 soldiers on two ships: a frigate (a type of warship) called Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and a sloop (a smaller ship) called San José. The expedition entered the bay on April 7. Sigüenza named the bay Bahía Santa María de Galve.
Later Career and Leadership
After his work in Pensacola, de Pez returned to the south. He commanded the entire Windward Fleet, a group of naval ships, until 1701.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, a major conflict in Europe, he supported the Bourbon King Philip V of Spain. He fought against the British, Dutch, and Catalans who supported Philip's rival, Charles VI of Austria. From 1708 to 1710, he served as captain general of the Indies fleet, which protected trade routes. In 1715, Pez became a member of Spain's Supreme War Council, a very important group that made decisions about military matters. In 1717, he was named governor of the Council of the Indies, which managed Spain's colonies in the Americas. Finally, in 1721, he became the secretary of state and navy, a top government position.
Honoring Andrés de Pez Today
Today, a Mardi Gras group for men called the "Andres de Pez" krewe honors his memory. The members wear bright red uniforms and traditional Spanish clothing.
See also
In Spanish: Andrés de Pez para niños
