Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan

Don Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, Count of Lucena, 1st Duke of Tetuan, (es: "Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, primer duque de Tetuán") (1809-1867), Spanish general and statesman. He was of Irish ancestry, a descendant of Calvagh O'Donnell, chieftain of Tyrconnell. [http://www.geocities.com/newporthistsoc/workhouse/nm1990.htm] [http://www.araltas.com/features/odonnell/]

O'Donnell was a strong supporter of the Cristinos, and backed the regency of Maria Cristina in the 1830s. When General Baldomero Espartero seized power in 1840, O'Donnell went into exile with Maria Cristina, and was involved in an attempted coup against Espartero in 1841. O'Donnell was soon back in power and was sent to Cuba as Captain General in October 1843. He is credited with the massacre of 1844 known as the repression of La Escalera. Thousands of slaves and free-colored people in Cuba ended up in dark dungeons, were turtured and executed in what became known as the 'year of the lash'. In 1854, he made a pronunciamento against the government and was named Prime Minister for a time. He served as War Minister in the Espartero government.

The Crimean War caused a sharp rise in grain prices due to the blockade of Russia, triggering a famine in Galicia in 1854. Riots over the power loom spread through Spain, and General O'Donnell intervened, marching on Madrid. Espartero resigned power in O'Donnell's favor on 15 July 1856, and Queen Isabella II asked him to form a government. For his new administration, O'Donnell formed the Union Liberal Party, which was designed to cross the traditional Progressive, Moderate, and Carlist lines. O'Donnell attempted to find a "middle way" for Spain with this new party, advocating laissez-faire policies and confiscating church land. He was shortly dismissed after only a few months in power, and two years of reaction followed. His first government did lay the groundwork for future progress.

In future governments, he was more careful. O'Donnell's two later administrations worked laboriously to attract foreign investment to improve Spain's railroad infrastructure. He failed to achieve much economic growth, however, and spurred industry only in Navarre and Catalonia, both of which already had substantial industrial centers. He was a proponent of a new and aggressive imperial policy, aimed principally at expanding Spanish territory in Africa, particularly after French successes in Algeria.

He took a brief respite from his government in 1860 to command the Spanish army at the battle of Tetuan during its invasion of Morocco, overseeing the capture of Tétouan. He was rewarded for his abilities in the campaign with the title "duque de Tetuán." In 1866 he repressed a revolt led by General Juan Prim, and was subsequently dismissed by the Queen for the brutality of his regime.