Spanish Naval Officer. A veteran of twenty-three naval campaigns, in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession he participated in the capture of Gibraltar, and lost his left leg to a cannonball during the Battle of Málaga, fighting Anglo-Dutch squadrons. In 1707, during the Siege of Toulon he lost his left eye in the assault on Santa Catalina Castle. In 1713, during the Siege of Barcelona, he lost his right arm. Rising to Lieutenant General of the Navy, in 1741 he was appointed to defend the city of Cartagena in what is now Columbia against an attacking fleet of 180 ships manned by 28,000 British, North American Colonials and Jamaicans, led by British Admiral Edward Vernon. Don Blas had only 6,000 soldiers, some Native Indian archers and a mere six ships at his disposal, but was able to fend off the siege which started on March 15, 1741 and lasted till April 25. By launching strategic attacks from the massive Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, and being well provisioned, Don Blas' men defeated overwhelmingly superior enemy (the attacking fleet was bigger than the Spanish Armada that tried to invade Britain). Admiral Vernon retreated on May 20, his aspirations of one day being Prime Minister ended. Don Blas died a few months later from injuries sustained during the siege, and his burial place has been lost to history. A memorial statue was erected of him at the site of Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, and the plinth on which it stands has large reproductions of the victory coins that the English had prematurely minted, showing Don Blas kneeling before Vernon with the motto "The Spanish Pride pull'd down by Admiral Vernon" and "True British Heroes Took Cartagena April 1741".
Spanish Naval Officer. A veteran of twenty-three naval campaigns, in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession he participated in the capture of Gibraltar, and lost his left leg to a cannonball during the Battle of Málaga, fighting Anglo-Dutch squadrons. In 1707, during the Siege of Toulon he lost his left eye in the assault on Santa Catalina Castle. In 1713, during the Siege of Barcelona, he lost his right arm. Rising to Lieutenant General of the Navy, in 1741 he was appointed to defend the city of Cartagena in what is now Columbia against an attacking fleet of 180 ships manned by 28,000 British, North American Colonials and Jamaicans, led by British Admiral Edward Vernon. Don Blas had only 6,000 soldiers, some Native Indian archers and a mere six ships at his disposal, but was able to fend off the siege which started on March 15, 1741 and lasted till April 25. By launching strategic attacks from the massive Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, and being well provisioned, Don Blas' men defeated overwhelmingly superior enemy (the attacking fleet was bigger than the Spanish Armada that tried to invade Britain). Admiral Vernon retreated on May 20, his aspirations of one day being Prime Minister ended. Don Blas died a few months later from injuries sustained during the siege, and his burial place has been lost to history. A memorial statue was erected of him at the site of Fort of San Felipe de Barajas, and the plinth on which it stands has large reproductions of the victory coins that the English had prematurely minted, showing Don Blas kneeling before Vernon with the motto "The Spanish Pride pull'd down by Admiral Vernon" and "True British Heroes Took Cartagena April 1741".
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