Argentine Naval Officer. Born in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland, his family came to the United States in 1786, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was interested in the sea from a young age, and became part of a merchant ship crew after the sudden death of his father. His subsequent sea career was marked by his being press-ganged into serving on a British warship, and as a prisoner of the French after being captured by them during the Napoleonic Wars. He arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1809. He familiarized himself with the Rio de la Plata river and the dangers of it's estuary. In 1814 he was named the Commander-in-Chief of the Argentina Navy by Argentine leader Gervasio Antonio de Posadas y Dávila, and was charged with ridding the area of Spanish dominion. His naval action in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1814 and his victory against the superior Brazilian Navy at the Battle of Juncal (February 24, 1827) are his major achievements. He is remembered as the creator of the Argentine Navy. His remains are in a small metal chest visible through a glass window inside a green tower.
Argentine Naval Officer. Born in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland, his family came to the United States in 1786, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was interested in the sea from a young age, and became part of a merchant ship crew after the sudden death of his father. His subsequent sea career was marked by his being press-ganged into serving on a British warship, and as a prisoner of the French after being captured by them during the Napoleonic Wars. He arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1809. He familiarized himself with the Rio de la Plata river and the dangers of it's estuary. In 1814 he was named the Commander-in-Chief of the Argentina Navy by Argentine leader Gervasio Antonio de Posadas y Dávila, and was charged with ridding the area of Spanish dominion. His naval action in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1814 and his victory against the superior Brazilian Navy at the Battle of Juncal (February 24, 1827) are his major achievements. He is remembered as the creator of the Argentine Navy. His remains are in a small metal chest visible through a glass window inside a green tower.
Bio by: Glen Short
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