Hispanic Participation in the American Revolution
Author: Ivan Castro
Mostly unknown to Americans, Spain and it colonies as well as many persons of
Hispanic origin made a significant contribution to the American Revolution.
Historians like Helen Matzke McCadden and writers such as Andy Porras attribute the
lack of knowledge about Hispanic involvement in the nation struggle for independence to
the American Anglo centric and Protestant centric view of history. That, however, is
changing.
Today, many academics are beginning to research and recognize the role of Spanish
speaking nations and individuals on our country’s birth.
While the sympathies of Spain and its possessions were with the American colonials
since the beginning of the Revolution, Spain did not declare war on until June 21, 1779.
Individuals, however, had already been aiding the Colonials for a while.
The best known Hispanics involved in the American Revolution were:
Jorge (Jordi) Farragut
Born in the island of Minorca, he joined the South Carolina Navy at the start of the
Revolution. His ship was one fourth of the American Navy at the time – the other three
were led by John Paul Jones, John Barry; and Alexander Gillon. Captured at the Siege of
Charleston in1780, he was freed in a prisoner swap and distinguished himself in the 1781
land battles of Cowpens and Wilmington. He is the father of David Farragut, the first
man to obtain the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Bernardo de Gálvez
Born in a mountain village of Málaga, de Gálvez was a career soldier when he was
appointed governor of Louisiana in 1777. From the start he supported the American
independence movement, not only because any trouble for Great Britain would benefit
Spain, but out of personal conviction. De Gálvez closed the Mississippi to British
shipping while allowing the colonials to move, provisions and weapons freely through
the river. He also left American troops use the port of New Orleans unencumbered. De
Gálvez became a personal friend of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Once Spain
was officially involved in the hostilities, he led a motley crew of Cubans, Mexicans,
Native Americans, Blacks and Spaniards against the British in the Gulf of Mexico region.
His diverse band of fighters defeated the British at Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile and, in
1781, Pensacola, preventing the British from being able to reinforce their troops up north.
Florida and Maryland have passed resolutions recognizing his contribution to American
independence.
Francisco de Miranda
Assigned as a Spanish Army attaché to George Washington’s staff by the Governor
General of Cuba, the Venezuelan born de Miranda, also participated in the de Gálvez’s
led expeditions along the Gulf of Mexico. In 1781de Miranda traveled to Havana where
he was instrumental in getting Spanish funds to pay the French fleet and American troops
during the Battle of Yorktown.
Juan de Miralles
King Carlos III designated the Spanish born de Miralles as his Royal Commissioner
(Ambassador) to the Continental Congress. A merchant and smuggler based in Havana,
the multilingual, sophisticated de Miralles, was the perfect man for the job. Well known
for his anti British stance, de Miralles in addition, was a budding democrat. From Cuba,
his ships transported uniforms, gun powder, riffles and other military supplies, as well as
rum, wine, candies, flour and other food stuff needed by the revolutionaries. It is widely
believed that de Miranda saved the Continental Army from being decimated by scurvy by
providing Washington with quinine, of which Spain had the monopoly, and with Cuban
grown limes, a great source of vitamin C. De Miralles died at his good friend’s George
Washington’s camp in Morristown, New Jersey, and the future first American president
led the mourners at his funeral.
Spanish forces continued operations against England, especially in the Spanish Main area
with attacks on the Bahamas and Jamaica. The Spanish Navy also kept the Royal Navy
busy in the region, preventing it from helping the King’s soldier’s in the north until peace
was declared on September 3, 1783.