Antonio de Escaño

Who was Antonio de Escaño?

Antonio de Escaño y García de Cáceres was a Spanish army and navy officer. From 1808 to 1810 he was Spain's Minister for the Navy.

He became a midshipman at the age of 17 and took part in almost every major naval operation: the Expedition against Algiers in 1783, the Defense of Cadiz in 1797 against the British fleet under John Jervis, the Battle of Brest, the Battle of Finisterre and the Battle of Cape St Vincent, where, thanks to his military vision, he managed to save the Spanish flagship, the Santísima Trinidad, when his commander José de Córdoba y Ramos lost control over the situation. For this, he was rewarded with the Order of Santiago .

He was wounded in the Battle of Trafalgar and became Minister for the Navy between 1808 and 1810.