Allegiance Spain Rank Admiral | Service/branch Spanish Navy Name Luis Cordova | |
 | ||
Died 29 December 1796(1796-12-29) (aged 90)
Cadiz, Spain Battles/wars Spanish-Barbary conflict
Battle of Cape St Vincent
War of the Polish Succession
Battle of Bitonto
American Revolutionary War
Armada of 1779
Action of 9 August 1780
Capture of the Merchant Quebec fleet
Battle of Cape Spartel | ||
Luis de Cordova y Cordova (8 February 1706 – 29 December 1796) was a Spanish admiral. He is best known for his command of the Spanish fleet during the American War of Independence. His best remembered actions were the capture of two British convoys totalling 79 ships between 1780 and 1782, including the capture of 55 ships from a convoy composed of Indiamen, and other cargo ships 60 leagues off Cape St. Vincent. In 1782 he battled the Royal Navy to a stalemate at the Battle of Cape Spartel, but failed to prevent the British relieving the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
Early life
Cordova was born in Seville to don Juan de Cordova Lasso de la Vega y Puente, a mariner, navy captain, and knight of the Order of Calatrava, and dona Clemencia Fernandez de Cordova Lasso de la Vega Veintimiglia, daughter of the Marquis of Vado del Maestre and first-cousin of her husband. He was baptised at San Miguel parish on 12 February.
His inclination toward the sea began at a young age — at 11 he enlisted aboard his father's ship and by 13 he had made his first journey to America. In 1721 he joined the naval academy at Cadiz and by 1723 graduated with the rank of Alferez de Fragata (ensign). The first lap of his career was marked by successful cruises and actions at sea that won the approval of his superiors and even the praise of the King. In 1730 Cordova had the distinction of commanding the naval escort for the Duke of Parma, Infante Carlos de Borbon (later Charles III of Spain), who journeyed across the Mediterranean en route to the campaigns in Italy. Carlos and his generals went on to reconquer the Kingdom of Naples for the Bourbons at the Battle of Bitonto, with naval assistance from a squadron commanded by Cordova.
The city of Cordova, Alaska was named after him.