- Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan
Don Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris,
Count of Lucena , 1stDuke of Tetuan , (es: "Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, primer duque de Tetuán") (1809-1867), Spanish general and statesman. He was of Irish ancestry, a descendant ofCalvagh O'Donnell , chieftain ofTyrconnell . [http://www.geocities.com/newporthistsoc/workhouse/nm1990.htm] [http://www.araltas.com/features/odonnell/]O'Donnell was a strong supporter of the Cristinos, and backed the regency of Maria Cristina in the 1830s. When General Baldomero Espartero seized power in 1840, O'Donnell went into exile with Maria Cristina, and was involved in an attempted coup against Espartero in 1841. O'Donnell was soon back in power and was sent to Cuba as Captain General in October 1843. He is credited with the massacre of 1844 known as the repression of La Escalera. Thousands of slaves and free-colored people in Cuba ended up in dark dungeons, were turtured and executed in what became known as the 'year of the lash'. In 1854, he made a
pronunciamento against the government and was named Prime Minister for a time. He served as War Minister in the Espartero government.The
Crimean War caused a sharp rise in grain prices due to the blockade of Russia, triggering a famine in Galicia in 1854. Riots over thepower loom spread through Spain, and General O'Donnell intervened, marching onMadrid . Espartero resigned power in O'Donnell's favor on 15 July 1856, and Queen Isabella II asked him to form a government. For his new administration, O'Donnell formed theUnion Liberal Party , which was designed to cross the traditionalProgressive ,Moderate , andCarlist lines. O'Donnell attempted to find a "middle way" for Spain with this new party, advocatinglaissez-faire policies and confiscating church land. He was shortly dismissed after only a few months in power, and two years of reaction followed. His first government did lay the groundwork for future progress.In future governments, he was more careful. O'Donnell's two later administrations worked laboriously to attract foreign investment to improve Spain's
railroad infrastructure. He failed to achieve much economic growth, however, and spurred industry only inNavarre andCatalonia , both of which already had substantial industrial centers. He was a proponent of a new and aggressive imperial policy, aimed principally at expanding Spanish territory in Africa, particularly after French successes inAlgeria .He took a brief respite from his government in 1860 to command the Spanish army at the
battle of Tetuan during its invasion of Morocco, overseeing the capture of Tétouan. He was rewarded for his abilities in the campaign with the title "duque de Tetuán." In 1866 he repressed a revolt led by GeneralJuan Prim , and was subsequently dismissed by the Queen for the brutality of his regime.Preceded by:
Baldomero Espartero, Count of LuchanaPrime Minister of Spain
14 July 1856 - 12 October 1856Succeeded by: Ramón María Narváez y Campos, Duke of Valencia Preceded by: Francisco Javier Istúriz Prime Minister of Spain
30 June 1858 - 2 March 1863Succeeded by: Manuel Pando Fernández de Pineda Preceded by: Ramón María Narváez y Campos, Duke of Valencia Prime Minister of Spain
16 September 1864 - 10 July 1866Succeeded by: Ramón María Narváez y Campos, Duke of Valencia
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