Cervera y Topete, Pascual

Cervera y Topete, Pascual

(päskwäl` thĕrvā`rä ē tōpā`tā), 1839–1909, Spanish admiral. During the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War,
1898, brief conflict between Spain and the United States arising out of Spanish policies in Cuba. It was, to a large degree, brought about by the efforts of U.S. expansionists.
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 of 1898 he was given command of the Atlantic fleet and sent, against his own advice, to Cuba. He was blockaded by the American fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba from May until July 3. Then, in an attempt to run the blockade, he lost his entire fleet and was captured. After his release he was tried and absolved from responsibility for the disaster.