Segismundo Bermejo

Admiral Segismundo Bermejo y Merelo (* 1832, † 1899) was Spanish Navy Minister during the Spanish- American War. In addition to his military career, he was a well known author, va in the field of science fiction.

Although he well knew the dangers of the Spanish fleet, which was led by Pascual Cervera y Topete his friend, he was forced by political circumstances to take an optimistic attitude. He ordered Cervera to sail to Cuba, where the Navy considering its ill-prepared and equipped armed forces almost certainly expected a humiliating defeat. Bermejo was equally optimistic when it came to the ability of the Spaniards to repel the threat to the United States in the Philippines.

When the news of the victory of Commodore George Dewey against Admiral Montojos fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, reached the Caribbean, came the Spanish officials in panic. Popular uprisings in Madrid forced Bermejos dismissal on 16 May 1898.