Andrés Reggio
Encyclopedia
Andrés Reggio y Brachiforte (1692–1780) was an officer of the Spanish
navy
.
He was born in the Spanish-controlled Sicilian
city of Palermo
in 1692. He joined the navy as a young man and served throughout the War of the Quadruple Alliance
serving in the invasion of Sardinia
and at the Battle of Cape Passaro
.
In 1720 he took part in the relief expedition to besieged Ceuta
and then moved to America, into the fleet of galleons in charge of bringing the money to the port of Cadiz
. He returned to the Mediterranean in 1730, where he took part in operations including the reconquest of Oran
in 1732) and Naples in 1733. For the next few years he commanded the Spanish fleet in Ferrol.
In 1739 at the outbreak of the War of Jenkin's Ear he was appointed to command in the Caribbean. He oversaw major construction work to Havana in preparation of a future British attack.
In 1748 he lost the Battle of Havana
to the British Admiral Charles Knowles, although Knowles was not able to capitalise: Havana remained in Spanish hands and the Spanish treasure fleet
passed unmolested. Reggio was later court-martialled, but was found innocent, and was later commended by the Spanish King for his actions. The war was brought to an end the same year.
In 1749 he returned to Spain, and was appointed Captain-General of the navy, a post he would hold until his death in 1780, thirty one years later.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
.
He was born in the Spanish-controlled Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
city of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
in 1692. He joined the navy as a young man and served throughout the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
serving in the invasion of Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and at the Battle of Cape Passaro
Battle of Cape Passaro
The Battle of Cape Passaro was the defeat of a Spanish fleet under Admirals Antonio de Gaztañeta and Fernando Chacón by a British fleet under Admiral George Byng, near Cape Passero, Sicily, on 11 August 1718, four months before the War of the Quadruple Alliance was formally...
.
In 1720 he took part in the relief expedition to besieged Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and then moved to America, into the fleet of galleons in charge of bringing the money to the port of Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. He returned to the Mediterranean in 1730, where he took part in operations including the reconquest of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
in 1732) and Naples in 1733. For the next few years he commanded the Spanish fleet in Ferrol.
In 1739 at the outbreak of the War of Jenkin's Ear he was appointed to command in the Caribbean. He oversaw major construction work to Havana in preparation of a future British attack.
In 1748 he lost the Battle of Havana
Battle of Havana (1748)
The Battle of Havana was an engagement between the British Caribbean squadron and a Spanish squadron based near Havana. After a number of abortive attacks, the British succeeded in driving the Spanish back to their harbour after capturing the Conquistador and running the vice-admiral's ship Africa...
to the British Admiral Charles Knowles, although Knowles was not able to capitalise: Havana remained in Spanish hands and the Spanish treasure fleet
Spanish treasure fleet
The Spanish treasure fleets was a convoy system adopted by the Spanish Empire from 1566 to 1790...
passed unmolested. Reggio was later court-martialled, but was found innocent, and was later commended by the Spanish King for his actions. The war was brought to an end the same year.
In 1749 he returned to Spain, and was appointed Captain-General of the navy, a post he would hold until his death in 1780, thirty one years later.