Manuel de Montiano facts for kids

Manuel Joaquín de Montiano y Sopelana (born January 6, 1685 – died January 7, 1762) was an important Spanish general and leader. He served as the Royal Governor of La Florida during its First Spanish Period. He also became the Royal Governor of Panama. Montiano is famous for defending Florida from a British attack in 1740. He also led his own attack on Georgia, though it was not successful. This happened during a conflict known as the War of Jenkins' Ear.

Early Life

Manuel Montiano was born in Bilbao, a city in northern Spain. He was related to Agustín de Montiano y Luyando, a famous historian and writer. Agustín helped start the Real Academia de la Historia in 1735.

When he was young, Montiano joined the Royal Spanish Army. He served in the Aragon Regiment for three years. Later, he moved to Darién in Panama. By 1719, he was a captain. He fought to defend the city of Oran in what is now Algeria against Arab forces.

Leading Florida

On April 29, 1737, Montiano became the Governor of La Florida. Soon after, he warned the Governor of Cuba about a possible British invasion. He asked for supplies to prepare for the danger.

On March 15, 1738, Governor Montiano created Fort Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé. This was a special fortified town for Black people who had escaped slavery in the Carolina Colony. Montiano offered them freedom and Spanish citizenship. In return, they had to join the militia and become Roman Catholics. This became the first free Black settlement in North America that was officially recognized. It was also a safe place for runaway slaves from the British colonies. Later, Montiano ordered the fort to be abandoned. Its residents moved to St. Augustine after some people were killed there.

The War of Jenkins' Ear

For many years, there was growing tension between Great Britain and Spain. On October 30, 1739, Great Britain declared war on Spain. This conflict was called the War of Jenkins' Ear. It was part of a bigger war, the War of Austrian Succession.

The war got its unusual name from an event involving a sea captain named Robert Jenkins. In 1731, Spanish sailors boarded his ship, the Rebecca. They were looking for smugglers. By a treaty, Britain was not allowed to trade with Spain's colonies. Jenkins' ship was caught, and his ear was cut off during the incident.

This war gave the Georgians a reason to attack Spanish Florida in 1740. The Georgians were led by James Oglethorpe. Spain and England had been arguing over the land in Georgia for a while.

British Attack on St. Augustine

Castillo de San Marcos

As part of the war, Oglethorpe led his troops from Georgia into Spanish territory. He captured several Spanish outposts, including Fort San Diego and Fort Mose. Then, he marched his soldiers toward St. Augustine.

On June 13, 1740, Oglethorpe began to attack St. Augustine. He blocked the city by sea, including the Matanzas Inlet. He also surrounded the Castillo de San Marcos. Governor Montiano had prepared the fort's defenses very well. He moved all the city's people inside the fort for safety.

Oglethorpe placed his troops and cannons on Anastasia Island, across the water. He hoped that constant bombing and blocking supplies would make Montiano surrender. But Montiano famously replied: "I will have the pleasure to meet you inside the castle...". The British cannons fired at the Castillo, but they could not break its strong coquina walls. The walls were too far away for the British cannons to do much damage.

A small Spanish ship managed to get past the British blockade. It sailed to Havana, Cuba for help. On July 7, a messenger returned to St. Augustine. He told Montiano that six supply ships were waiting at Mosquito Inlet, further down the coast. The messenger also said the British ship blocking Matanzas Inlet had left.

An English soldier who deserted told the Spanish that Oglethorpe planned a night attack. This attack would happen during the next six days of very high tides. High water was needed to cross Matanzas Bay and attack the Castillo.

Six days passed, but no attack came. So, Montiano sent five small ships to get the supplies. As the boats returned, they met two British ships. The British ships opened fire and chased them. The fighting continued until dark. The British ships then went back to their main group. This allowed the Spanish ships to enter Matanzas Inlet safely. They sailed up the river and brought supplies to the Castillo without any problems.

Oglethorpe had captured Fort Mose earlier in the war. But Montiano recaptured it on June 26, after a battle. The coquina walls of the Castillo were not badly damaged by the British cannons. The British fleet decided to sail north to avoid the coming hurricane season. British soldiers were losing hope because the blockade was broken. They had also lost Fort Mose. With hurricane season starting and the city now well-supplied, Oglethorpe ended the siege on July 20, 1740. On the 38th day of the siege, the British left the area.

Building Fort Matanzas

Fort Matanzas.

Montiano then began building Fort Matanzas in late 1740. Coquina stone for the fort came from El Piñon, an inlet south of Matanzas. Building was hard because long wooden piles had to be driven into the marsh to support the stone walls. The British and their Native American allies often tried to stop the construction.

On July 21, 1741, the British tried to attack the Spanish again. Two British ships saw a Spanish ship anchored inside Matanzas Inlet. A Spanish galliot (a small boat with oars and sails) that the British had not seen opened fire. It was far away but hit nothing. Darkness and fog stopped the British attack.

The next day, the British attacked again. A British ship moved toward the Spanish ship. The Spanish ship tried to move but got stuck on a sandbar. The British fired at the stuck ship. Two Spanish crew members were killed and two were hurt. The Spanish galliot again saved the day by firing at the British ships. This stopped them from doing more damage. The British ships had to retreat to the open sea. If the British had defeated the galliot, they might have captured Fort Matanzas.

Spanish Counter-Attack in Georgia

On July 5, 1742, Governor Montiano launched his own attack. He led an army of about 5,000 men. They sailed to St. Simons Island, off the Georgia coast. The British had built two small forts there: Fort St. Simons and Fort Frederica.

Oglethorpe left Fort St. Simons after the Spanish surrounded him. He retreated to Fort Frederica. The Spanish quickly took over Fort St. Simons the next day. They then started scouting the area on foot. The two armies met in battles at Gully Hole Creek and Bloody Marsh.

On the morning of July 7, Spanish scouts moved toward Fort Frederica. They met British rangers at Gully Hole Creek. Shots were exchanged. Oglethorpe arrived with more soldiers and charged the Spanish line. The Spanish scattered. Oglethorpe left some soldiers to defend the spot and returned to Frederica.

Later that afternoon, the Spanish sent more troops. British forces fired at them from behind thick bushes in the marshes. This surprise attack, along with confusion in the smoky swamp, led to another Spanish defeat. This second fight was called the Battle of Bloody Marsh. It got its name from its location, not from many deaths. These defeats stopped the Spanish from taking St. Simons Island.

In September 1742, Oglethorpe tried to attack St. Augustine again. By this time, Fort Matanzas was finished. It fired its cannons, and the British retreated without firing back. The next April, Oglethorpe tried one last time. But strong waves kept him from getting close to the inlet. Neither side fired a shot.

Governor of Panama

In 1748, Montiano was named Governor of Panama. He was also promoted to brigadier general and field marshal. These were rewards for his actions in Florida. Four years later, he married Gregoria Josefa Aguiar in Havana, Cuba. They later had a son. He remained Governor of Panama until 1758. After his time as governor, an investigation found him to be an innocent and honorable person.

Later Years

In 1759, Montiano moved back to Spain. He retired and lived in Madrid. He was promoted to lieutenant general that same year. He died in Madrid in 1762. He was buried in the church of San Martín.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel de Montiano para niños

Sources

• History of the Castillo de San Marcos
• Official NPS website: Fort Matanzas National Monument
• The War of Jenkin's Ear
• Why did England and Spain fight over an ear?