Bernardo Lecocq facts for kids
Bernardo Lecocq (born February 10, 1734 – died December 7, 1820) was an important Spanish military engineer. He helped design and build forts and defenses.
He was born in La Coruña, Spain. His father was from Flanders (a region in Belgium) and his mother was from Ireland. In 1770, he traveled to the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, which was a large Spanish territory in South America. He settled in the Banda Oriental del Uruguay (now Uruguay) in 1773.
Bernardo Lecocq married María del Pilar de Pérez Valdéz, who was from Buenos Aires. Their son, Manuel Francisco Bernardo Lecocq, was born in 1795. Their son later became a well-known politician and businessman in Uruguay. In 1799, Bernardo Lecocq freed Maria Basilia Malabesone and her children, who had been enslaved. This means he gave them their freedom.
He played a key role in defending Montevideo against the British invasion. This included his actions during the Battle of Cardal on January 20, 1807. He passed away in Montevideo in 1820.
Contents
Military Career and Engineering Works
Bernardo Lecocq began his military career in the infantry in 1753. He was a skilled engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of important defenses.
Building Fortifications
In 1776, he was put in charge of building the strong fortifications around Montevideo. These defenses were very important for protecting the city. He also built other forts, including:
- The fort of San Miguel in 1772.
- The fort of Santa Tecla in 1774.
Promotions and Leadership
Lecocq steadily rose through the ranks in the Spanish military. He was promoted to Colonel in 1792. Later, in 1802, he became a Brigadier. As a Brigadier, he led Spanish troops during the Battle of Cardal on January 20, 1807. This battle was part of the efforts to stop the British invasion of Montevideo.
See also
In Spanish: Bernardo Lecocq para niños
