Francisco Dionisio Vives facts for kids
Francisco Dionisio Vives Piñón (1755–1840) was an important Spanish general. He also served as an ambassador for Spain in the United States and was the governor of Cuba.
Early Life and Governor of Cuba
Francisco Vives was born in Orán, Salta, a city in present-day Argentina. He became the Captain General of Cuba from 1823 to 1832. This was a time when most Spanish lands in the Americas had become independent countries. Even with only a few soldiers, Vives managed to keep peace and order in Cuba, making sure it remained part of Spain without any fighting or violence.
Because of his great work for Spain, the government gave him special honors. One of these was the important title of Count of Cuba.
Military Career
In the early 1800s, Spain and France were allies. During this time, Vives was the commander of the first infantry (foot soldiers) of Catalonia, a region in Spain. In 1807, he fought in Etruria (a region in Italy) against forces from what is now Germany, under the leadership of General Brunn.
Later, when Napoleon made his brother the king of Spain, Spanish soldiers in Europe heard about the unrest back home. Francisco Vives and his men traveled to Denmark and then boarded British ships. They arrived back in Santander, Spain, in 1808.
In 1823, King Fernando VII of Spain appointed Vives as the Captain General of Cuba. He held this position for nine years. During his time as governor, he showed strong leadership qualities. He stopped secret groups like "Suns and Rays of Bolivar" and "Black Eagle" from trying to separate Cuba from Spain in 1829.
Vives also helped Cuba's economy grow. He supported the expansion of the sugar industry and made foreign trade more open, which brought a lot of wealth to the island. He also worked to improve public health by opening new hospitals for women, children, and people needing mental health care.
On May 15, 1832, Vives was replaced as governor of Cuba. He was then named Captain General of Valencia (another region in Spain) from 1834 to 1836. He also received the high honor of being named a nobleman by the King of Spain.
Family Life
Francisco Dionisio Vives married Dona Francisca Candelaria Oliva in Trinidad, Cuba. They had a daughter named Juana Vives. Francisco Vives later returned to Spain.
Records show that King Don Alfonso XII of Spain issued an order on January 1, 1881, to find Vives so he could receive a military award called the Order of San Germenegildo. Vives's daughter, Juana, married Juan Ferrer and they had seven children. They named one of their sons "Francisco" (Paco) after the General.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Dionisio Vives para niños
