Pascual Cervera
| Pascual Cervera y Topete | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister of the Navy | |
|
In office 14 December 1892 – 23 March 1893 |
|
| Monarch | Alfonso XIII of Spain |
| Prime Minister | Práxedes Mateo Sagasta |
| Preceded by | José López Domínguez |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Pasquín de Juan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 18, 1839 Medina-Sidonia, Cadíz province, Spain |
| Died | April 3, 1909 (aged 70) Puerto Real, Cadíz province, Spain |
| Resting place | Panteón de Marinos Ilustres, San Fernando, Cadíz province, Spain |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Spain
|
| Service/branch |
 Spanish Navy
|
| Years of service | 1858–1907 |
| Rank |
 Almirante (Admiral) |
| Commands | Navy Staff Cuba Squadron Ministry of the Navy Cartagena harbor Battleship Pelayo Corvette Ferolana Corvette Santa Lucia Schooner Circe |
| Battles/wars |
Ten Years' War
|
Ten Years' War
Spanish–Moroccan War Spanish–Moro conflict
Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete (18 February 1839, Medina-Sidonia, Cadíz, Spain — 3 April 1909, Puerto Real, Cadíz, Spain) was a prominent Spanish naval officer with the rank of Almirante (admiral) who served in a number of high positions within the Spanish Navy and had fought in several wars during the 19th century. Having served in Morocco, the Philippines, and Cuba, he went on to be Spain's naval minister, chief of naval staff, naval attaché in London, the captain of several warships, and most notably, commander of the Cuba Squadron during the Spanish–American War. Although he believed that the Spanish Navy was suffering from multiple problems and that there was no chance for victory over the United States Navy, Cervera took command of the squadron and fought in a last stand during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
Pascual Cervera y Topete was born in Medina-Sidonia in the province of Cadiz, the son of a Spanish Army officer who fought against French invasion of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Cervera entered the naval college at the age of thirteen and was later made a midshipman during his first voyage to Havana in 1858. He later made lieutenant junior grade at the age of 21 and spent time serving in both Cuba (during the early part of the Ten Years' War) and also Morocco (during the Spanish–Moroccan war). Later, Cervera was deployed to the Spanish Philippines, where, under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez, in September 1864 he took part in the storming of Fort Pagalungan against the Moro rebels. During that action, he distinguished himself by capturing the enemy flag and was promoted to lieutenant for his service, receiving a mention in the official report on the battle. Afterwards, Cervera took part in expeditions mapping the hundreds of islands of the Philippine archipelago, which became useful to sailors navigating the area. In 1865 he returned to the Spanish homeland and got married.
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