Francisco Tomás Morales facts for kids
Francisco Tomás Morales was a Spanish military leader. He was born in the Canary Islands around 1781 or 1783 and passed away there in 1845. Morales became the last Spanish Captain General of Venezuela. He reached a high rank, known as field marshal, during the Venezuelan War of Independence. This was a time when Venezuela fought for its freedom from Spain.
Morales and the Fight for Independence
Morales played a key role in the Spanish efforts to keep control of Venezuela. In 1822, he issued a statement that worried American merchants. These merchants were doing business in Venezuelan cities like Caracas and Puerto Cabello. They asked Captain Robert T. Spence for help. Captain Spence was on a ship called the Cyane. He stayed for a few days in October 1822 to protect the Americans. This made the merchants feel safer for a short time.
Morales's forces faced a major defeat in July 1823. This happened at the Battle of Lake Maracaibo. After this battle, Morales accepted that his side had lost. The city of Puerto Cabello was the last place in Venezuela still controlled by Spain. It fell to the forces fighting for independence in November 1823. This marked the end of Spanish rule in Venezuela.
Key Campaigns and Battles
Francisco Tomás Morales was involved in many important military actions. He fought in various campaigns during the Venezuelan War of Independence.
- 1813-1814: He served in campaigns under another Spanish leader, José Tomás Boves, in Venezuela.
- 1815: Morales took part in the first campaign on Isla Margarita, an island off the coast of Venezuela.
- 1815: He was also part of the Siege of Cartagena in what is now Colombia.
- 1816: Morales helped stop an expedition from Haiti in Carúpano, Venezuela.
- 1817-1820: He continued to fight in campaigns under Pablo Morillo, another Spanish general.
- 1821-1822: Morales served in campaigns led by Miguel de la Torre.
- 1822-1823: He led the campaign in the Occidente region, which included the area around Maracaibo.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Tomás Morales para niños
