Pascual Cervera | |
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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 | Medina-Sidonia, Cádiz province, Spain | February 18, 1839
Died | April 3, 1909 Puerto Real, Cádiz province, Spain | (aged 70)
Resting place | Panteón de Marinos Ilustres, San Fernando, Cádiz province, Spain |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1858–1907 |
Rank | ![]() |
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 Spanish–Moroccan War Spanish–Moro conflict
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Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete (18 February 1839 – 3 April 1909) was a Spanish Navy officer and politician who served in a number of high-ranking positions within the Navy and fought in several wars during the 19th century. Having served in Morocco, the Philippines, and Cuba, he went on to serve as Minister of the Navy, Chief of Staff of the Navy, 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, where he was decisively defeated.