Background
Pascual Cervera was born on February 18, 1839 in Medina Sidonia, Spain.
Pascual Cervera was born on February 18, 1839 in Medina Sidonia, Spain.
Pascual Cervera showed an early inclination for the sea, and his family sent him to the naval cadet school at the age of twelve.
As a sub-lieutenant Pascual Cervera took part in the naval operations on the coast of Morocco during the campaign of 1859-60.
Then he was for some time engaged in operations in the Sulu Islands and the Philippines.
Afterwards he was on the West Indian station during the early part of the first Cuban War (1868 - 78), returning to Spain in 1873 to serve on the Basque coast against the Carlists.
He distinguished himself in defending the Carraca arsenal near Cadiz against the Federals in 1873.
This post he resigned after a few months in order to become minister of marine in 1892, in a cabinet presided over by Sagasta.
When in 1898 the Spanish-American War (q. v. ) broke out, he was chosen to com. mand a squadron composed of four first-class cruisers, the "Maria Theresa, " his flagship, "Oquendo, " "Vizcaya, " and "Columbus, " and several destroyers.
This ill-fated squadron only started upon its reckless cruise across the ocean after its gallant commander had repeatedly warned both the minister of marine and the prime minister, Sagasta, in despatches from Cadiz and from the Canary and Cape Verde Islands, that the ships were insufficiently provided with coal and ammunition.
Some of them, indeed, even lacked proper guns.
In spite of his energetic representations, Cervera received an order from Madrid, dictated by political considerations, to sally forth.
It meant certain destruction.
The gallant squadron met forces trebly superior to it, and was totally destroyed.
The admiral, three of his captains, and 1800 sailors and marines were taken by the victors to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U. S. A.
Admiral Cervera was married and had several children, but he lived his private life with a rigid schedule. One of his sons was also in the Spanish Navy and served with his father at Santiago.
