Miguel Tacón y Rosique Facts for Kids

Miguel Tacón y Rosique (born in Cartagena, Spain, on January 10, 1777 – died in Madrid on October 13, 1855) was an important Spanish military leader and government official. He worked in the Spanish Americas and later became the Governor of Cuba from 1834 to 1838.

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Biography

Miguel Tacón y Rosique was the son of Miguel Antonio Tacón y Fosca, who was a high-ranking officer in the Spanish Army. His mother was María Francisca Rosique y Ribera.

Early Life and Military Career

In March 1806, Miguel Tacón was appointed as the civil and military Governor of Popayán Province. This area is now part of Southern Colombia. During his time there, he faced early rebellions from people wanting independence in places like Ecuador and New Granada.

He was defeated in a battle called Bajo Palacé in 1811. After this, he had to go to Oruro. There, he joined the army led by the Viceroy of Peru, Pezuela. He helped achieve victories in the Battles of Vilcapugio and Viluma. Because of his success, he was promoted to a high military rank called Mariscal de Campo. In 1819, he returned to Spain due to health reasons.

Governor of Cuba

Miguel Tacón was seen as someone with liberal ideas. Because of this, he was not given important roles during a period known as the Ominous Decade (1823-1833). This was when King Ferdinand VII brought back a very strict Absolute Monarchy.

However, in 1834, he was chosen to be the Governor of Cuba. He arrived on the island on June 7. He was known for improving daily life and building many public works, especially in Havana. The mayor, Claudio Martínez de Pinillos, helped a lot with these projects.

Some places in Havana were named after him, like the Tacón Theatre, Paseo de Tacón, Mercado de Tacón (Tacón Market), and Tacón Garden. While he did many good things for the island, some people found his leadership style very strict.

Later Life

After his time in Cuba, Miguel Tacón returned to Spain in 1838. He later served as the Spanish Ambassador to Great Britain in 1844 and again from 1847 to 1848.

In 1847, he was given a special noble title, Duque de la Unión de Cuba. He also received a very important award called the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1853, during the rule of Queen Isabel II, he was made a senator for life.