Leopoldo O\'Donnell

Leopoldo O'Donnell there Jorris , duke of Tétouan, count de Lucena and Viscount of Aliaga (born with Santa Cruz of Tenerife, the January 12th 1809 - died with Biarritz, the November 5th 1867) was a soldier and Spanish politician. O'Donnell is born in a family of soldiers, originating in the Irish catholic aristocracy exiled in consequence of religious persecutions of the crown of England. O'Donnell perpetuates a military tradition while entering to the regiment of infantry Imperial Alejandro , with the rank of subteniente .

With died of Ferdinand VII, in 1833, the First war carlist bursts between the partisans of the girl of Ferdinand, Isabelle II under the regency of his/her mother Marie-Christine, the Cristinos or Isabelinos , and those of his/her uncle, infant it Carlos, the Carlistos . O'Donnell, who carries the rank of captain then, takes party for the Cristinos , although his/her father Jose Enrique and his brother Carlos Luis take party for " Charles V". Thanks to many feats of arms, it goes up quickly in the military hierarchy, becoming coronel (Colonel), Brigadier , then Mariscal de Campo (Brigadier general) in June 1837.

In 1839, it is named Capitán General (governor of military region) for Aragon and the areas of Valence and Murcie. Winner of the general carlist Ramón Will pull up with Lucena, it receives the title of cop of Lucena and the rank of Teniente General (Major general).

Of moderated conviction, i.e. being opposed to the carlism as with the radical liberalism of the Progressists carried out by the General Espartero, it is one of the most faithful supports of the regent Marie-Christine. It follows the regent in exile to France in 1840 at the time of the victory of Progressites d' Espartero, but returns quickly to Spain.

In 1841, it takes part in the conspiracy of the general Diego de León against the regency of the general Espartero. O'Donnell has the role of raising the army in the area of Pampelune, but after the failure of the attempt at catch of the Palacio Real of Madrird, it must be again exiled in France.

Three years later, whereas the general Narváez became president of the Council in the place of Espartero, it is named capitán general Cuba, and occupies this station until in 1848. Of return in Spain, it is named senator and managing director of the Academy of infantry.

Starting from 1853, it impliquede more in more in the policy and gathers around him the moderate ones, it is what will become the Union Liberal In June 1854, with the head of a battalion of infantry, with the support of the general Dulce, it is raised against the government. The Blaser general is sent to fight it; the two armies meet in Vicálvaro, and after a sham fight (known under the name of Vicalvarada ), the troops move away, awaiting the continuation of the events. July 7th, the proclamation of Manzanares is published; it is written by Antonio Cánovas, and most of the army joins there. After the triumph of rising, Espartero is named president of the Council of Ministers, and O'Donnell obtains the ministry for the War. This Revolution of 1854 marks the beginning of the Bienio Progresista , an attempt of the Progressists to reform Spain.

In the Cortes, it forms a new political group, the Union Liberal . In front of the unstable situation of the country at the time of Bienio Progresista, it reverses Espartero in a new coup d'etat in 1856 and its government lasts until October 1857, when Narváez replaces it.

O'Donnell returns to the capacity in July 1858. It is while it is with the head of the government which Spain declares the war in Morocco the October 22nd 1859; it puts itself at the head troops, and occupies Tétouan in February 1860. The treaty of Tétouan, which puts an end to the war, ensures the recognition of the Spanish positions in North Africa and increases the territory of Ceuta. The duque title of of Tetuan (duke of Tétouan) is granted to him after this victory. It also launches a programme of expansion of the railway network. It controls until in 1863, date on which it must present its resignation following pressures of the moderate Party; it is replaced by the marquis del Duero.

In 1865, the demonstrations coeds (due to the reference of Emilio Castelar of its university pulpit) and the bloody repression which follows (the " harms of San Daniel) again carry O'Donnell to the presidency of the government and the ministry for the war. After the Rising of the sergeants of San Gil, the June 22nd 1866, entering in dissension with the queen Isabelle II, O'Donnell resigns of her load and is withdrawn with Biarritz where he dies the November 5th 1867.

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