Andrés Reggio

Who was Andrés Reggio?

Andrés Reggio y Brachiforte was an officer of the Spanish navy.

He was born in the Spanish-controlled Sicilian city of Palermo in 1692. He joined the navy as a young man and served throughout the War of the Quadruple Alliance serving in the invasion of Sardinia and at the Battle of Cape Passaro.

In 1720 he took part in the relief expedition to besieged Ceuta and then moved to America, into the fleet of galleons in charge of bringing the money to the port of Cadiz. He returned to the Mediterranean in 1730, where he took part in operations including the reconquest of Oran in 1732 and Naples in 1733. For the next few years he commanded the Spanish fleet in Ferrol.

In 1739 at the outbreak of the War of Jenkin's Ear he was appointed to command in the Caribbean. He oversaw major construction work to Havana in preparation of a future British attack.

In 1748 he lost the Battle of Havana to the British Admiral Charles Knowles, but Knowles was unable to capitalise: the bullion laden convoy passed unmolested. Reggio was court-martialled, but was then pardoned and commended by the King for his actions.