Juan Ángel Michelena facts for kids
Juan Ángel Michelena (born 1774, died 1831) was an important Spanish naval officer. He was known for his bravery in battles at sea, like the one near Cape St. Vincent against the British Navy. He also played a big part in defending and taking back Buenos Aires from English invaders. Later, he even served as a temporary governor in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Juan Ángel Michelena was very loyal to the Spanish Empire during the wars when countries in South America fought for their independence. In 1825, he became the Governor of Ferrol, a city and port in Spain.
Quick facts for kids
Juan Ángel de Michelena
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| Birth name | Juan Angel de Michelena y Moreno |
| Born | 1774 Maracaibo, Viceroyalty of New Granada |
| Died | September 29, 1831 Ferrol, Spain |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | .svg){kind=small} Spain |
| Service/ |
 Spanish Navy |
| Years of service | 1788-1831 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Batalla del Cabo de San Vicente Combate del Retiro Primer bombardeo de Buenos Aires Segundo bombardeo de Buenos Aires Combate naval del Buceo Batalla del Trocadero |
| Awards | Legion of Honour Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild |
| Spouse(s) | María del Carmen del Pino y Vera Muxica |
| Signature |  |
Contents
Early Life and Family
Juan Ángel Michelena was born in Maracaibo, which is now part of Venezuela, in 1774. His parents were José Ignacio de Michelena and Maria Josefa Moreno. His family was well-known and had roots in the Basque region of Spain.
He later settled in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, he married María del Carmen del Pino. Her father was Joaquín del Pino, an important figure. Juan Ángel and María del Carmen had six children together.
His father, José Ignacio de Michelena y Echeverría, was born in Cadiz, Spain. He came from a noble Basque family. He had served as a mayor in Caracas, Venezuela. His mother, Maria Josefa Moreno de Mendoza, was born in Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa. Her father, Francisco Javier Moreno de Mendoza, was a governor of Maracaibo.
Michelena started his naval training in Europe at a young age. He joined the Armada Española in Cadiz, Spain, when he was just twelve years old. In 1788, he finished his basic studies. On February 1, he began his first voyage on the frigate "Cecilia." He sailed to places like Tangier, Cartagena, Constantinople, and the coast of Syria.
In 1789, Michelena returned to Cadiz and was promoted to Alferez (a junior officer rank). He worked as an assistant on the ship "San Lorenzo," traveling to Barcelona, Livorno, and Naples. He also served under Félix Ignacio de Tejada, who was a Captain General of the Spanish Navy.
Back in Cadiz, Michelena spent two months in a special cavalry unit of the Spanish Navy. He was later promoted to Lieutenant. He served in Havana and Puerto Rico. He also fought against John Jervis in the Battle of San Vicente on February 14, 1797. In 1798, he served on the ship "San Pablo," chasing English ships that were blocking the port of Cadiz. Michelena helped capture an English ship called the "Pitt."
In 1803, Michelena commanded the ship "Ligero." With it, he captured a pirate ship in the Mediterranean Sea. He then sailed to La Coruña and crossed the Atlantic Ocean. His job was to carry messages between the Antilles, Tierra Firme, and Montevideo.
Fighting in South America
Michelena became a Captain in 1805. He arrived in Montevideo and served under General Pascual Ruiz Huidobro. The next year, he joined Santiago de Liniers' campaign to fight against the British invaders. He led sailors who fought on land, taking part in the Battle of Retiro in Buenos Aires. He also helped transport troops to and from the Banda Oriental (modern-day Uruguay).
During the second British invasion, Michelena was in charge of the schooner "Remedios." He managed to make two English ships flee.
In September 1807, Viceroy Liniers appointed Michelena as governor in the Banda Oriental. This caused some trouble in Uruguay. When Michelena arrived in Montevideo to take over, he was publicly insulted and attacked by Francisco Javier de Elio. He stayed in Montevideo for several years but did not support the ruling group that Elio set up in 1808. A year later, Elio was removed from power by the new viceroy.
Michelena was in Buenos Aires when the May Revolution began, which led to Argentina's independence. He went with General Joaquin de Soria to Montevideo. Michelena helped stop a revolutionary attempt in the Banda Oriental.
In December 1810, he led a campaign along the Uruguay River. He convinced several towns to obey Montevideo, including Concepción del Uruguay and Paysandú. When Uruguayans started fighting for independence the next year, Michelena could not stop the patriots from Buenos Aires from sending help. However, he did slow them down. Along with Captain Jacinto de Romarate, he fought against the patriot troops in several campaigns. They also raided the coast of the Paraná River, which weakened the forces from Buenos Aires.
In July 1811, Michelena approached the coast of Buenos Aires with five Spanish ships. He was ordered to fire on the city. In total, thirty-one bombs and three cannonballs were fired into the Rio de la Plata. They did not reach the city's coast. This event is known as the First Bombardment of Buenos Aires.
In August 1812, he led a Second Bombardment on Buenos Aires. This attack only caused some damage to the river coast. However, it had a big psychological effect on the people living there.
In 1814, Juan Ángel Michelena took part in the Battle of Buceo. In this battle, Spanish naval forces fought against the patriots, led by William Brown. Michelena was captured when the city surrendered to General Carlos María de Alvear.
Return to Spain
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On April 14, 1820, Michelena escaped to Montevideo. From there, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro. He left South America for good on an English ship that took him to Gibraltar. Two years later, he was in Cadiz, Spain.
Michelena retired from active duty and lived in Puerto Real. When French troops entered the port of Cadiz, he offered his services to Count Bordesoulle. The Count assigned him to the Navy of Sanlúcar.
In 1823, Juan Ángel Michelena served under Guy-Victor Duperré. He participated in the bombing of Cadiz to help bring back King Ferdinand VII of Spain to power. For these actions, he was given the title of knight of The Order of Saint Hermenegild. He also received the Cross of the Marina Laureate and the Legion of Honour from France.
In 1825, Michelena was appointed Governor of Ferrol. He was promoted to Brigadier de la Real Armada (Brigadier of the Royal Navy) in 1826. He passed away in 1831, after being chosen as governor of Castellón de la Plana.
Images for kids
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Signature of Juan Ángel Michelena
See also
In Spanish: Juan Ángel Michelena para niños
