Espartero, Baldomero

Espartero, Baldomero

 

Born Oct. 27, 1793, in Granátula; died Jan. 8, 1879, in Logroño. Spanish military and state figure; general.

Beginning in 1808, Espartero saw military action against the French occupation forces in Spain. From 1815 to 1823 he served in the Spanish army fighting the rebels in Spain’s South American colonies. He commanded government units in the First Carlist War (1833–40).

In the political struggle, Espartero was the leader of the Progressives.

With the support of revolutionary juntas, he became the head of the government in September 1840; in May 1841 he was elected regent by the Cortes. Deposed in July 1843 as a result of an uprising led by General Narváez, he emigrated to Great Britain, where he remained until 1848. Espartero became the head of the Spanish government once again during the Revolution of 1854–56.