MINA, Don Fna.xcisco Esroz Y., 1782-1836; b. Spain; first distinguished himself in 1809 by guerrilla warfare, organizing bands of mountaineers in Catalonia to repel the French invaders. In 1810 he became commander-in-chief of the Catalonian army, and noted for his inces-sant activity and remarkable presence of mind. In 1812 he Wit& made commander in Aragon, with the rank of general, and assisted in gaining the victories of Salamanca and Vittoria, and conducted an efficient blockade of Pampeluna. Discovering, when peace was made, in 1814, that he had been laboring in the interest of the despotic policy of Ferdinand III., he made an ineffectual attempt to gain over the garrison of Panipeluna to the cause of freedom, and then sought an asylum in France. While resident in Paris he was arrested by a French commissary of police, employed by the Spanish ambassador. On this occasion Louis XVIII. acted with great magnan imity. Ile disinissed the commissary, demanded the recall of the Spanish ambassador,
and not only released Mina but gave him a pension of 1000 francs. In 1822, when the army of Cadiz proclaimed the constitution of 1812, and began a new revolution, gen. Mina. repaired to Navarre, where he learned that the king had accepted the new constitution, and accordingly ceased an aggressive movement which he had already undertaken. He was appointed capt.gen. of the armies of Navarre, Catalonia, and Aragon; but on Ferdi nand recanting his assurance of adherence to the constitution, lie again retired from Spain, and went to England. After the accession of Isabella II., under the regency of queen Christina, he became prominent in the operations against don Carlos; and on these ending, the charge of educating the young queen was allotted to gen. Mina and his wife.