Blas de Lezo

Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (3 February 1689 - 7 September 1741) was a Spanish admiral best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (1741) in modern-day Colombia, where Spanish imperial forces under his command resisted a siege by a large British invasion fleet under Admiral Edward Vernon. He is considered one of the best strategists in the history of the Royal Spanish Navy.

In the battle of Cartagena de Indias, the British concentrated a large fleet consisting of 186 ships, including 2620 artillery pieces and more than 27000 men, bigger than Spanish Armada. Of that number, 10000 were soldiers responsible for initiating a ground assault. There were also 12600 sailors, 1000 Jamaican slaves and macheteros, and 4000 recruits from Virginia led by Lawrence Washington (1718-1752), the elder half-brother of George Washginton, future President of the United States.

The defences of Cartagena de Indias comprised 3000 soldiers between regular troops, Black and Afro-descendants militia, 600 Indian archers, plus the crews and troops of six Spanish warships. Blas de Lezo's advantages consisted of a formidable primary fortress and numerous secondary fortifications.

On the evening of April 19, the British mounted an assault in force upon San Felipe. Three columns of grenadiers supported by Jamaicans and several British companies moved under cover of darkness, with the aid of an intense naval bombardment. The British fought their way to the base of the fort's ramparts but were unable to overcome the defence and withdrew.

After comprehensively destroying the forts in their possession, the British began an orderly withdrawal back to Jamaica, having lost more than 4500 men and 6 boats, and with other 20 boats in very bad shape. The Spanish victory ensured that the Spanish Empire would continue to dominate the region for some more decades.