Bernando De Galvez was the Viceroy of the New Spain.Bernardo De Galvez started his career being a Spanish militant and through promotions reach higher levels. He became lieutenant at a young age, then, captain, and eventually rose to the position of the Viceroy of New Spain.Bernardo De Galvez was born on July 23, 1746, in the Spanish province of Malaga, a small mountain village. Bernardo De Galvez was born into a poor family but had royal connections. He graduated from the prestigious Military Science school ‘Academy de Avila’. Bernardo De Galvez was only 16 when he stepped on the war field for the first time.He was the part of Spanish Army that was set to invade Portugal. The Spanish Government was impressed by the bravery of 16-year-old De Galvez and promoted him to the position of Lieutenant Colonel. In the first 10 years of his career, he was able to move from Spain to New Spain in North America. New Spain was a Spanish colony. Mexico and many southwestern states were part of the Spanish Colony as well. Check out more interesting Bernardo de Galvez facts below!Inspirational Facts About Bernardo De GalvezHere are some inspirational facts about Bernardo De Gálvez that will help you understand his role in American history:Bernardo de Gálvez was not only an amazing soldier, but he was also a philanthropist. His contribution to American independence is a huge example. Spain supplied weapons, uniforms, and medicines to the Mississippi River, so American troops could fight for their rights.He put his own life at risk and fought the war against the British. He was a well-educated man and imparted his knowledge to the military aspirants in the same school he graduated from.During his tenure as Viceroy of New Spain, his region came under the attack of two natural calamities. Bernardo himself became a victim of one.First, in 1785 due to extreme cold, the next year was ruined with famine. Second, in 1786, A epidemic called ‘Typhus’ crawled into the city, wiping off nearly 3,00,000 people.Bernardo de Gálvez donated 12,000 pesos of his inheritance for Famine relief. Not only that, he raised 1,00,000 pesos from other means as well to buy grains such as maize and beans for his people.He introduced and implemented new policies to improve the production of agricultural goods. When Bernardo was working on the Acapulco highway project, he took the necessary measure to reduce the abuse that Indian labor had to face.Gálvez pledged to donate 16% of his income from lottery, games, and other means to charities. Gálvez sponsored the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain, helping in the advancement of science.He was a kind man, he gave new life to the criminals who were taken to the gallows. He suspended the hanging and let them be freed, so they could become better people.Valor Related Facts About Bernardo De GalvezHere are some important valor related facts about Bernardo De Gálvez that will surely impress you:In the 18th century, Europe was constantly at war with each other. When Gálvez was a 16-year-old boy in 1762, he was sent to fight the war against Portugal.Everyone was impressed with the young Gálvez’s bravery and made him captain of the Military unit in La Corúna in northwest Spain. In 1769, Gálvez was assigned the northern frontier of New Spain as the charge of military forces. He fought Apache Indians who were interfering in the trading in Arizona and Texas.Following the footsteps of his nation, he formed an alliance with the enemy of the enemy. Like Spain had the support of France’s forces, who were Britain’s enemy, Gálvez made an alliance with Native Americans as they had common enemies, ‘Apache Indians’.Gálvez was wounded in the battle (1771-1772) and was awarded for his bravery. A ford on the Pecos River was named after him, Paso de Gálvez to show appreciation of his loyalty and braveness. He had high regard for french culture and learned French military tactics as well. Gálvez became governor of Louisiana when he was just 31.All big nations, England, Spain, and France wanted to gain more control over the land in North America. In 1776, America declared war against British rule. Gálvez supported America. He wanted to keep Britain away from his territories but also wanted to keep Americans in check as he was also a colonial leader in a foreign land.Spain had previously lost a few parts of its territories of Alabama and Florida. Gálvez thought it was a good opportunity to regain control over those territories.He made sure that Spanish, American, and French Ships had access to the ports of New Orleans. This move was made to cut off the supply of soldiers and other needs of British forces. He planned and organized the weapons and means that Spanish forces would need during Spain’s entry into the war.Gálvez used his personal force which consisted of free African Americans, Choctaw Indians, French Canadians, Creoles, and Spanish soldiers to attack British forts. British soldiers were divided, half were busy protecting forts, and another half in fighting Americans. Among these forts, George fort in Pensacola was the most important one as it was the capital of British West Florida.Gálvez with his seven thousand soldiers were getting attacked by the fort. During the war, the commander of the Spanish ship refused to head towards the Pensacola as it was risky. Despite being injured in stomach and hand, Gálvez took the command and sailed it into the bay. He saved the reputation of Spain, defeated the British force, earned a ticket for American Independence and the title of bravery with this war.American Revolutionary WarHere are some important aspects related to the Spanish entry in the American Revolution and the role of Bernardo De Gálvez:The Spanish King decided to assist the American Revolutionary War, but Spain didn’t enter into a formal alliance. José de Gálvez sent his nephew Bernando de Galvez to New Orleans in the year 1777 as a governor of the Spanish territory of Louisiana.This territory was located west of the Mississippi River. Current states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and Idaho were part of this territory. The revolutionary war was between American British colonies and Great Britain. Great Britain and Spain were rivals, the idea of defeating British forces while supporting the American Revolution was extremely pleasing to them.Bernardo de Galvez helped American rebels in the revolutionary war by sending weapons, gunpowder, ammunition, aiding financially, medicines, and other important things to the Mississippi River for American troops. Two years later, in 1779, Spain joined the war. King Charles wanted the British Government to recognize America as the independent United States of America.The British government refused this proposal hence Spain declared war. Spain made this move to protect its colonies from British troops. Bernardo de Galvez captured the Pensacola, Mobile, Biloxi, and Natchez all the four British Ports in the lower Mississippi River. It’s one of the greatest wins in his military history. Bernardo De Galvez drove away British forces from the gulf coast and British west Florida. It was the longest battle of the American Revolutionary War.In 1782, Spanish forces under Bernardo De Galvez captured the British Naval Base at Nassau. Bernardo received appreciation from the Spanish Crown for his wins against Britain. He was promoted to the position of lieutenant general and field Marshal. He became the governor and captain-general of Louisiana and Florida.He also earned the titles of Viscount of Gálveztown and the town of Gálvez. Bernardo De Galvez also received recognition from George Washington and the United States Congress for his contribution to American independence. There are only eight people who have been awarded honorary US citizenship. Bernardo De Galvez is one of those eight people.Viceroy Of New SpainHave you read books published on Bernardo De Gálvez by the New Mexico Press for his role during the American Revolution? Read on for some interesting facts about the role of Bernardo De Gálvez as the viceroy of Spain:After winning over British troops, Bernardo de Gálvez was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general of the army as well as the general of Cuba. He had to return to Indies in October 1783 to resume his official work, unfortunately then Viceroy of the New Spain, Maltiás de Gálvez y Gallardo passed away. He was Bernardo’s father.Bernardo de Gálvez was appointed to fill in for his father and became a Viceroy of Spain. During his tenure in Mexico City, Gálvez did everything to improve the quality of life of people.He renewed the infrastructure of New Spain. In 1785, he ordered the initiation of Chapultepec castle. Gálvez also ordered the construction of many towers of the cathedrals, pavements on the streets, and installing streetlights in Mexico City.As a viceroy, he shows care for his laborers too. He took measures to reduce the abuse Indian Labor was facing during the construction of Highway to Acapulco. Gálvez penned down some of the important policies which remain effected till the colonial period ended.He wrote ‘Instrución para el Buen Gobierno de las Provincias Internas de la Nueva Espaná’. It translates to the Instructions for governing the Interior Provinces of New Spain. He involved local leaders while making decisions. It shows us how good a leader Gálvez was. He ordered to make maps of Mexico City. In the year 1786, Gálvez, the strongest soldier of Spanish forces and Viceroy of New Spain got defeated by the Epidemic. Others believe that he died of Malaria. The legacy that Bernardo de Gálvez left behind, still shines.Legacy Of Bernardo De GalvezHere are some important aspects related to the legacy of the governor of Spanish Louisiana:Bernardo de Gálvez fought and won many battles in his life that brought his name and appreciation. His has been commemorated with many titles. There are a couple of towns and cities that are named after Bernardo De Galvez.Names of those towns are Galveston (Texas), Galveston Bay, Galveston County, Galvez (Louisiana), and St. Bernard Parish (Louisiana). It is said that the East Feliciana and the West Feliciana are named after his wife Marie Felicite de Saint-Maxent Destrehan. He married Marie Felicite in 1777, the same year he became governor of Louisiana.The Cabildo, a branch of the Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans has established a portrait of Captain-General Bernardo de Galvez with biographical information about him. The Central Business District, a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans, has installed an Equestrian statue of Galvez in Spanish Plaza, adjacent to the New Orleans World Trade Center.There is plaza called ‘Gálvez Plaza’, in Baton Rouge Louisiana. It is used as a site for municipal events. Gálvez has a hotel named after him which was built over 100 years ago. In 1979, that hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. When Gálvez was honored with Honorary citizenship by United States Congress on December 16, 2014, He was called ‘A Hero Of A Revolutionary War’. Without the support of Bernardo de Gálvez, American independence would have been delayed.
Bernando De Galvez was the Viceroy of the New Spain.
