Alexander O'Reilly
| Alejandro O'Reilly | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Governor of Louisiana | |
|
In office April 1769 – December 1769 |
|
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Preceded by | Antonio de Ulloa |
| Succeeded by | Luis de Unzaga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1722 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | March 23, 1794 Bonete, Spain |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | Bloody O'Reilly |
| Allegiance |
 Ferdinand VI Charles III Charles IV
|
| Service/branch | Spanish Army |
| Rank | Marshal of Spain |
| Battles/wars |
War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War French Revolutionary Wars |
Marshal Alejandro, Conde de O'Reilly (Spanish pronunciation: [aleˈxandro oɾeiˈʎi]; 1722, Dublin, Ireland – March 23, 1794, Bonete, Spain ) (English: Alexander, Count de O'Reilly), was an Irish-born military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century. O'Reilly served as the second Spanish governor of colonial Louisiana, and was the first Spanish official to exercise power in the Louisiana territory after France ceded it to Spain following defeat by Great Britain in the Seven Years' War. For his much-appreciated services to the Crown of Spain, O'Reilly was ennobled as a conde (count), and granted a coat of arms.
Alexander O'Reilly (Irish: Ó Raghallaigh) was born in Dublin in the Kingdom of Ireland in 1722. His grandfather John Reyly was a colonel in the army of James II, whose regiment—O’Reilly’s Dragoons—fought at the siege of Derry. The family was from Baltrasna, in County Meath. Like many so-called "Wild Geese" of his generation, O'Reilly left Ireland to serve in foreign, Catholic armies. He joined Spanish forces fighting in Italy against the Austrians. After campaigning in the Spanish invasion of Portugal, O'Reilly swore allegiance to Spain and rose to become a brigadier general.
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Wikipedia