Museo naval madrid blas de lezo biography

Spanish admiral

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lezo and the second or maternal family name is Olavarrieta.

AdmiralBlas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (3 February – 7 September ) was a Spanish navy officer best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (), where Spanish imperial forces under his command decisively defeated a large British invasion fleet under Admiral Edward Vernon.

Throughout his naval career, Lezo sustained many severe wounds; he lost his left eye, left hand, complete mobility of the right arm, and had his left leg amputated in situ after being hit by the projectile of a cannon.^[1] He perceived his wounds and physical limitations as medals, refusing to wear an eye patch to hide his blind eye.

Wearing his past battles history on his flesh won the respect of his peers and soldiers.^[2] Lezo used to say that the lack of a leg does not imply the lack of a brave heart. It is said that he sometim