Patricio Montojo

Patricio Montojo y Pasarón ( born September 7, 1839 in Ferrol, † September 30, 1917 ) was a Spanish military.

Life

Montojo studied at the Naval Academy in Cadiz. In 1855 he received the rank of boatswain, 1860 he was promoted to lieutenant. In the following years he fought in Mindanao (Philippines ) against the independence movement. In 1864 he returned to Spain.

Montojo took under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez part in the Battle of Abtao and the Battle of El Callao against Peru and was promoted to Admiralty Secretary. In 1873 Montojo received the rank of captain. In the following years he commanded several in Havana and Rio de la Plata stationed warships.

Use in the Philippines

Montojo returned with the rank of vice-admiral to the Philippines, where the took over the post of Captain-General and thus the supreme command of the squadron stationed there. In the Spanish-American War Montojo tried to protect Manila. On May 1, 1898, the Spanish fleet was defeated in the Battle of Manila Bay. Montojo and one of his two sons, who took part in the battle, were wounded.

In September 1898 Montojo was recalled to justify in Madrid for the disastrous defeat. He left Manila in October 1898 and met in Madrid on 11 November 1898. In March 1899 he was found guilty and jailed for. Admiral George Dewey, his opponent in the battle of Manila, spoke out for him. Montojo was rehabilitated and left the Navy.