José de la Gándara y Navarro
Encyclopedia
José de la Gándara y Navarro (b. 15 October 1820) was a Spanish
soldier, born in Bilbao
. He entered the military College as a cadet in 1832, joined the army in 1834 as sublieutenant, and served in the campaign against the Carlists
till 1839, participating in all the battles. Afterward he served with distinction in the colonies, and, after reaching the rank of brigadier, was appointed, in 1857, governor of the islands of Fernando Poo
and Annobón y Corisco. In 1862 he became major general, and in November of that year was made military governor and commander-in-chief of the province of Santiago de Cuba
. The insurrection against the Spanish domination
of Santo Domingo
, which had been annexed in 1861, began in the department of Cibao
in February 1863; the troops were soon driven into the coast-towns, and the interior cities wrested from them. Gandara, without waiting for orders from the home-government, despatched reinforcements to his comrades by the frigate Isabel II, then in port. He afterward received orders to march with all the forces at his command to the assistance of the commander-in-chief. He landed in Puerto Plata
, 17 September 1863, driving the insurgent forces back, and afterward occupied the cities of Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal
, the latter after a series of bloody engagements with the enemy, in 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and appointed captain-general and commander-in-chief of the island, and in that year won the battle of Monte Cristi. The provisional government now began peace negotiations, which, however, led to no favorable issue. Meanwhile the home government resolved to abandon the struggle, and in May 1865, Gandara, with his troops, evacuated the island. He subsequently received the appointment of governor-general of the Philippine islands, and, after the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, was military chief of the king's household, and captain-general of Castile. He published Historia de la Anexion y Guerra de Santo Domingo.
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...
soldier, born in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. He entered the military College as a cadet in 1832, joined the army in 1834 as sublieutenant, and served in the campaign against the Carlists
First Carlist War
The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833-1839.-Historical background:At the beginning of the 18th century, Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, promulgated the Salic Law, which declared illegal the inheritance of the Spanish crown by women...
till 1839, participating in all the battles. Afterward he served with distinction in the colonies, and, after reaching the rank of brigadier, was appointed, in 1857, governor of the islands of Fernando Poo
Bioko
Bioko is an island 32 km off the west coast of Africa, specifically Cameroon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea with a population of 124,000 and an area of . It is volcanic with its highest peak the Pico Basile at .-Geography:Bioko has a total area of...
and Annobón y Corisco. In 1862 he became major general, and in November of that year was made military governor and commander-in-chief of the province of Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba Province
Santiago de Cuba Province is the second most populated province in the island of Cuba. The largest city Santiago de Cuba is the main administrative center...
. The insurrection against the Spanish domination
Dominican Restoration War
The Dominican Restoration War was a guerrilla war between 1863 and 1865 in the Dominican Republic between nationalists and Spain, who had recolonized the country 17 years after its independence...
of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, which had been annexed in 1861, began in the department of Cibao
Cibao
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and...
in February 1863; the troops were soon driven into the coast-towns, and the interior cities wrested from them. Gandara, without waiting for orders from the home-government, despatched reinforcements to his comrades by the frigate Isabel II, then in port. He afterward received orders to march with all the forces at his command to the assistance of the commander-in-chief. He landed in Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata is one of the northern provinces of the Dominican Republic. The area has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction since the late 1990s mainly due to its fine beaches...
, 17 September 1863, driving the insurgent forces back, and afterward occupied the cities of Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
San Cristóbal is a municipality and the capital of the San Cristóbal province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : Hato Damas.-Sectors:*5 de abril*Canastica*El Pomier...
, the latter after a series of bloody engagements with the enemy, in 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and appointed captain-general and commander-in-chief of the island, and in that year won the battle of Monte Cristi. The provisional government now began peace negotiations, which, however, led to no favorable issue. Meanwhile the home government resolved to abandon the struggle, and in May 1865, Gandara, with his troops, evacuated the island. He subsequently received the appointment of governor-general of the Philippine islands, and, after the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, was military chief of the king's household, and captain-general of Castile. He published Historia de la Anexion y Guerra de Santo Domingo.