Antonio de Alcedo facts for kids

Antonio de Alcedo (1735–1812) was a Spanish soldier and a smart scholar. He was born near Quito, which is now in Ecuador. Alcedo became a military officer in the Spanish Army. He was also a well-known historian and geographer. He is most famous for his big five-volume book. It was called The geographical and historical dictionary of America and the West Indies. This important work was published in Madrid between 1786 and 1789.

Antonio de Alcedo's Early Life

Antonio de Alcedo was born in 1735. His father, Dionisio de Alcedo Herrera, was a very important person. He was the president of the Real Audiencia de Quito. This was a high court and government body. Antonio left Quito when he was very young.

As a child, Alcedo moved a lot with his father. His father took on different important jobs. These jobs were all over the large Spanish empire. A very important time for Antonio was when they lived in Panamá. His father was the governor there. In Panamá, Antonio watched his father build strong forts. This made him very interested in the geography and history of America.

Becoming a Spanish Officer

In 1752, when Alcedo was seventeen, he went back to Spain. He wanted to become a soldier. The king allowed him to join the army even though he was not yet an adult. By 1792, he had become a brigadier general in the Spanish army. This is a high rank. In 1800, he was promoted again to field marshal. Then, in 1802, he was made governor of A Coruña, a city in Galicia, Spain.

Historian and Geographer

Between 1786 and 1789, Alcedo wrote his most famous work. This was during a time known as the Enlightenment. He called his book a dictionary. This meant it was a reference book, like an encyclopedia. Its full Spanish name was Diccionario geográfico-histórico de las Indias Occidentales ó América. This long title meant it covered the geography and history of the West Indies or America. It included places like Peru, New Spain, and Chile.

In this book, Alcedo wanted to give a detailed look at the history and geography of the Spanish lands in the New World. The book was published in Madrid and came out in five large volumes. He said he looked at over 300 other books about the Americas. He also used his own travels and his father's work. These experiences were a big part of what he wrote.

The Spanish government was worried about this information. They feared it would help their rivals. So, they banned the book from being reprinted or sent out of Spain. But the book was soon translated into many major European languages. In 1812, G. A. Thompson translated it into English. Even today, it is still seen as an important and reliable text.

Role in the Peninsular War

As the Governor of A Coruña, Alcedo played an important role in the Peninsular War. His army was able to stop Marshal Soult's forces. This gave time for Sir John Moore's British troops to leave for Britain. This happened after the Battle of Corunna. Alcedo finally surrendered on January 18, 1809.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio de Alcedo para niños