CERVERA Y TOPETE. thi;r-vien't 4". tie pwtti, PAsgc..1., ('node de d,rez, de Santa Anna ( 1533—). A Spanish admiral, born in Jerez, in the Province of ('adiz. Ills father was one of the wealthiest wine-merchants of Spain; his mother a daughter of ('mitt Topete v Vellc, a member of the royal family. Cervera was educated at San Fernando (1815-51), and after his graduation served on several training ships. Ile distinguished himself during the cant paigli against Nloroceo in 18:i9, and was appoint ed a first lieutenant. lie was a member of the Spanish expedition against Cochin China in 1502, and afterwards was appointed attach6 of the Spanish legation at Washington. Subsequently he was prolind•d to the rank of captain, and was put in conliliand of a vessel sent to Peru during the war of 1860_ Upon the outbreak of the Ten Years' War in Cuba (1505-78) lie was engaged in the blockade of Cuban ports, but was recalled by the Government and appointed Seel.etary of the Navy in the Spanish Cabinet. Ile was advanced to the rank of admiral, and soon thereafter placed in vommand of the Pelage, the original first-class battle-ship of the Spanish Navy. lie was next appointed adjutant to the Queen Regent. and was made chief of the Span ish commission sent to the European Naval Con ferenee held in 1,011(14)71 in 1891.
l'pon the outhreal«ff the Spanish-American War he Ivas placed in counnand of the squadron sent to America. consisting of the cruisers In fanta ](aria Teresa, Cri.str;lil Colon, .Ilmirante Oqu•ndo, and and the torpedohoat destroyers Terror, ru•or, and Pleton. The fleet left Cadiz April 8th and the Cape Verde Islands April 29th. From this latter date Cervera elud
ed the ,1inerican fleet, and his whereabouts caused much apprehension. especially in the cities ailing the Atlantic Coast. Ile had shaped his course for Cuba, however_ and about .\lay 19th his squadron entered the harbor at Santiago, where it was blockaded by American vessels under the command of Admiral On July 3d — by the express orders of his Government, it is said Cervera made a hold dash (ruin the harbor and gave battle to the American vessels; but in the running fight which ensued his fleet was de stroyed and lie was taken prisoner by Lieutenant 'Wainwright of the (ilolowatcr. By reason of his exceptional bravery, Ids eourteous and dignified bearing. and his generous conduct toward Lieu tenant Hobson, lie was made the object of nmeli official and popular courtesy. Immediately after the battle President .\leKinley gave him permis sion to communieate with his family by cable, and be received many other personal attentions. On July 10 lie Was taken to PortsInolith, and thence to Annapolis (Jul• 101. lVith the num bers of his stall* he sailed for Spain on Septem her 12, 1898, and arrived at Santander Septem ber 21. Upon his return to Spain lie was sub jected to court-martial, a procedure usual in European countries, in order that all the facts relative to a defeat or other disaster may he fully known, and the blame or reason for such defeat or disaster fairly placed. Ile was acquit ted and liberated, July 7, 1899,