Career
On the 4th of May 1589, English forces, already in control of the lower city, breached the defences of the old city. An English soldier with a banner, who was making his way to the highest part of the wall, was killed by Pita. She appeared on the heights of the wall herself, shouting: Quen teña honra, que me siga ("Whoever has honour, follow me!") whereupon the English incursion was driven back by the defenders.
The English later gave up the assault and retreated to their ships.
Other women also participated directly in the defence of Corunna. A surviving record tells of one Inés de Ben receiving treatment for two shots received in the siege.
María Pita was married four times and had four children. The ship María Pita of the Balmis Expedition was named after her in 1803.
In August 2008, SASEMAR (Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima, Spanish acronym for Sea Rescue and Safety Society) baptized the Bachelor of Science-14 Rescue Ship as María Pita.