MINA, FRANCISCO ESPOZ Y (1781-1836), Spanish guerrillero leader and general, was born at Ydozin in Navarre on June 17, 1781. He began guerrilla warfare against the French invaders in 1808. The national government at Cadiz gave him rank, and by the 7th of September 1812, he had been promoted to be commander-in-chief in Upper Aragon, and on the left bank of the Ebro. In the interval he claimed that he had fought 143 actions big and little, had been repeatedly wounded with bullet, sword and lance, had taken 13 fortified posts, and 14,000 prisoners, and had never been surprised by the French. Mina claimed that he immobilized 26,000 French troops which would but for him have served with Marmont in the Salamanca campaign. In the campaign of 1813 and 1814 he served under Wellington. After the restoration of Ferdinand he was exiled. His political opinions were democratic and radical, and as a yeoman he disliked the hidalgos (nobles). The revolution of 182o brought him back, and he served the Liberal party in Galicia, Leon and Catalonia. On Nov. 1, 1823, he was compelled to capitulate to the French sup porters of Ferdinand VII., but escaped to England by sea. In
183o he took part in an unsuccessful rising against Ferdinand. On the death of the king he was recalled to Spain, and the govern ment of the regent Christina gave him the command against the Carlists in 1835, though they feared his Radicalism. By this time, years, exposure and wounds had undermined his health. He was also opposed to Thomas Zumalacarregui (q.v.), an old officer of his in the War of Independence, and an even greater master of irregular mountain warfare. His health compelled him to resign in April 1835, and his later command in Catalonia was only memorable for the part he took in forcing the regent to grant a constitution in August 1836. He died at Barcelona on Dec. 24, 1836.
AUTHORITIES.-In 1825 Mina published A Short Extract from the Life of General Mina, in Spanish and English, in London. Mention is made of him in all histories of the affairs of Spain during the first third of the 19th century. His full Memoirs were published by his widow at Madrid in 1851-52.