Fernando de Leyba facts for kids

Don Fernando de Leyba (1734–1780) was a Spanish officer. He served as the third governor of Upper Louisiana from 1778 until he passed away. Upper Louisiana was a large territory controlled by Spain in North America.

Fernando de Leyba's Early Life and Role

Not much is known about Fernando de Leyba's life before he became governor. He was appointed to this important position on June 14, 1778. As governor, he was in charge of a big area.

Keeping Watch During the American Revolution

Right after he became governor, Leyba received special orders. Bernardo de Galvez, a high-ranking Spanish official, told him to watch the American Revolutionary War closely. Leyba also had to keep any talks with American leaders a secret. He was told to report everything to Galvez right away.

Meeting George Rogers Clark

Just two months later, Leyba met George Rogers Clark. Clark was an American military leader. He had just won a big victory at Kaskaskia. Clark visited St. Louis and talked with Governor de Leyba.

Clark was worried about an attack from Detroit. He suggested that Leyba should build stronger defenses for St. Louis. When Galvez heard this, he told Leyba that he would have to manage on his own. No extra fortifications would be sent.

Defending St. Louis

In June 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain. An attack on St. Louis was expected the next year. Leyba had some warning about the upcoming attack.

Building Fort San Carlos

Leyba quickly gathered 1000 piastres (a type of money) to build a fort. He even used 400 of his own money for the project. The fort was named Fort San Carlos.

Leyba had already spent a lot of his own money on gifts for Native American groups. So, paying for the fort was a big challenge for him. Only one tower of the fort was fully built. Part of a second tower was also constructed.

The Attack on St. Louis

The attack came on May 26. The partially built fort was enough to help defend the town. The attackers were not successful. After failing to capture St. Louis, they destroyed farms nearby as they retreated.

Leyba's Final Days and Legacy

Fernando de Leyba was already in poor health. He passed away on June 28, shortly after the attack. His report about the battle reached Galvez after his death. However, Galvez was very impressed with Leyba's actions. He promoted Leyba to the rank of lieutenant colonel after he had died.

Later Accusations and Reconsideration

After Leyba's death, some people in St. Louis blamed him for their problems. They wrote anonymous letters to the government in New Orleans. These letters claimed he had behaved badly. Some even called him a "Spanish Benedict Arnold" (a famous American traitor).

In 1831, a historian named Judge Wilson Primm gave a lecture. He claimed that Leyba had sold gunpowder to the enemy. He also said Leyba acted cowardly during the battle and purposely stopped the town's defense. These claims were supported by stories from survivors many years after the battle.

For a long time, many historians believed these accusations. But recently, some historians have started to look at Leyba's role again. They are reconsidering his actions in defending the American frontier.

See also

In Spanish: Fernando de Leyba para niños