José de Córdoba y Ramos

Don José de Córdoba y Ramos, (Utrera, September 26 1732 - Cadiz, April 3 1815), was a Spanish explorer and naval officer from the 18th century.

Biography

Born in a family of sailors, Córdoba took to the seas at the age of 13. He sailed all over the world and fought in several battles against the English, Algerians and French. Later in his career he sailed several times to the Philipines,where he oversaw repears to the Manila Galleon. He also paid great attention to the health of his sailors by preventing scurvy.

On september 21, 1789 he became Teniente general (lieutenant general).
At the outbreak of the war with England in 1796, he was put in command of the Spanish fleet. in this position he suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797) on board of the Santísima Trinidad.

Córdoba was demoted after this battle.

Family

He was the father of José de Córdoba y Rojas, a loyalist commander in the Spanish American wars of independence.
He was also grandfather of

• Luis Fernández de Córdova, fought in the Carlist Wars.
• Fernando Fernández de Córdova, fought in the Carlist Wars.

Sources

• Template:Es Pedro Sánchez Núñez, Venturas y desventuras de un marino utrerano: José de Córdova y Ramos, 2002, 348 pages
• Template:Es Francisco de Paula Pavía y Pavía, Galería biográfica de los generales de marina, jefes y personajes notables que figuraron en la misma corporación desde 1700 a 1868, Volume 1, Impr. J. Lopez, 1873, p. 343 and following.
• Template:Es Google Books Catalogo descriptivo de los objetos que contiene El Museo Naval, Impr. de L. Beltran, Madrid, 1862, p. 20

Links

• Template:Es José de Córdova y Ramos: Circunvaló el globo terráqueo, article in ABC Journal, Seville edition by Ignacio Fernández Vial.