ESPOZ Y MINA, FRANCISCO Spanish guerrillero leader and general, born at Ydozin, Navarre, June 17, 1781. He enlisted in Doyle's regiment in i8o8, passed to the guerrilla band commanded by his nephew Xavier Mina, was made commander of the guerrilleros of Navarre (April r, 181o), and commander-in-chief in Upper Aragon and on the left bank of the Ebro (Sept. 7, 1812). A successful strategist and excellent organizer, he compelled the French authorities to allow him to levy customs dues on all goods imported into Spain, except contraband of war, which he would not allow to pass without fighting. With the money thus obtained he paid a regular salary to his bands whom he had brought to a respectable state of efficiency in 1812. Espoz y Mina served with distinction under the duke of Wellington (1813-14). After the restoration of Ferdinand he fell into disfavour; involved in the Liberal Party plot at Pamplona (Sept. 25-26), he went into exile, and at the revolution of 182o served the Liberal Party in, Galicia, Leon and Catalonia. In 1823 he fled to England, took part in an unsuccess ful rising against Ferdinand in 183o; recalled to Spain under the regent Christina, he was given the command against the Carlists in 1835. He resigned in April of the same year for reasons of health ; his later command in Catalonia was only memorable for the part he took in forcing the regent to grant a constitution (Aug. 1836). He died at Barcelona on Dec. 24, 1836.
See F. Espoz y Mina, Memorias (Madrid, 1851-52) ; A Short Extract from the Life of General Mina (Eng. and Span. text, London, 1825).