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Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution
Although Spain was never a formal ally of the United States during the American Revolution, its entry into the war definitively tipped the balance against Britain. Led by Bernardo de Gálvez, supreme commander of the Spanish forces in North America, their military campaigns against British settlements on the Mississippi River--and later against Mobile and Pensacola--were crucial in preventing Britain from concentrating all its North American military and naval forces on the fight against George Washington's Continental army. In this first comprehensive biography of Gálvez (1746-86), Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia assesses the commander's considerable historical impact and expands our understanding of Spain's contribution to the war.
A man of both empire and the Enlightenment, as viceroy of New Spain (1785-86), Gálvez was also pivotal in the design and implementation of Spanish colonial reforms, which included the reorganization of Spain's Northern Frontier that brought peace to the region for the duration of the Spanish presence in North America. Extensively researched through Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. archives, Quintero Saravia's portrait of Gálvez reveals him as central to the histories of the Revolution and late eighteenth-century America and offers a reinterpretation of the international factors involved in the American War for Independence.
A man of both empire and the Enlightenment, as viceroy of New Spain (1785-86), Gálvez was also pivotal in the design and implementation of Spanish colonial reforms, which included the reorganization of Spain's Northern Frontier that brought peace to the region for the duration of the Spanish presence in North America. Extensively researched through Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. archives, Quintero Saravia's portrait of Gálvez reveals him as central to the histories of the Revolution and late eighteenth-century America and offers a reinterpretation of the international factors involved in the American War for Independence.
602 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2018
About the author
Gonzalo María Quintero Saravia
5 books1 followerGonzalo María Quintero Saravia es un diplomático español, desde 2008, embajador de España en Pakistán. Doctor en Derecho y Licenciado en Geografía e Historia, ingresó en 1992 en la Carrera Diplomática.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 13, 2026
Seeing as the Spanish contribution to the American Revolution has not exactly been over-written about, I've been looking forward to the opportunity to give this work a try.
However, having just finished it, I have to report that while Quintero apologizes for English not being his best language, the reality is that I found that the author's prose style really became an impediment to getting the most out of it; much of the language being overly convoluted and labored. One of my favorite gaffs was when Quintero discussed the operational readiness of the main British infantry units at the siege of Pensacola, the 16th & 60th Foot, and by the end of the passage I couldn't tell which unit was being referred to. Also, somewhat more amusingly, in a caption to a period cartoon, Quintero refers to a French snob as a "courtesan," as opposed to a courtier.
Possibly more problematic, I believe that Quintero spreads it on too thick in holding forth about what an exemplary character Bernardo de Galvez was, as a representative of Enlightenment culture, a soldier, and a servant of King Carlos III. Yes, the man does seem to have been impressive, and it's also impressive how his wider clan came out of nowhere to make a mark in Spanish society, but as a writing strategy it's better to let the acts speak for themselves, rather than engage in excessive cheer-leading.
Still, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of this book's virtues. It does appear to be a complete life of an important man's career. Quintero has put together an impressive archival & bibliographic foundation. Finally, Quintero's writing gets much more crisp when he's talking about policy and diplomacy, as one might imagine from a man who is a career diplomat.
Still, my suspicion is this work will mostly be mined for details to be included in other books, rather than something that is read for its own sake.
However, having just finished it, I have to report that while Quintero apologizes for English not being his best language, the reality is that I found that the author's prose style really became an impediment to getting the most out of it; much of the language being overly convoluted and labored. One of my favorite gaffs was when Quintero discussed the operational readiness of the main British infantry units at the siege of Pensacola, the 16th & 60th Foot, and by the end of the passage I couldn't tell which unit was being referred to. Also, somewhat more amusingly, in a caption to a period cartoon, Quintero refers to a French snob as a "courtesan," as opposed to a courtier.
Possibly more problematic, I believe that Quintero spreads it on too thick in holding forth about what an exemplary character Bernardo de Galvez was, as a representative of Enlightenment culture, a soldier, and a servant of King Carlos III. Yes, the man does seem to have been impressive, and it's also impressive how his wider clan came out of nowhere to make a mark in Spanish society, but as a writing strategy it's better to let the acts speak for themselves, rather than engage in excessive cheer-leading.
Still, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of this book's virtues. It does appear to be a complete life of an important man's career. Quintero has put together an impressive archival & bibliographic foundation. Finally, Quintero's writing gets much more crisp when he's talking about policy and diplomacy, as one might imagine from a man who is a career diplomat.
Still, my suspicion is this work will mostly be mined for details to be included in other books, rather than something that is read for its own sake.
February 8, 2021
Nos encontramos a mi entender ante uno de los grandes personajes olvidados de nuestra historia y es motivo de vergüenza que este insigne malagueño sea más conocido en Estados Unidos que en España, aunque últimamente y gracias a libros como este se le está haciendo justicia. Por último, decir que la obra ganó el Distinguished Book Award a la mejor biografía publicada en Estados Unidos en 2018 y es que pocas veces se puede decir en historia que un estudio sea definitivo pero esta biografía sino lo es se le acerca mucho.
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
November 27, 2020
Been making my way through this biography slowly but I definitely learned a lot
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews