1689-1741
#Lezo
"To be defeated is not to be conquered." — Blas de Lezo
Spanish admiral who defended Cartagena de Indias against a massive British invasion force in 1741, defeating Admiral Edward Vernon's fleet of 186 ships with only 6 ships and 3,000 men. Despite losing an eye, leg, and arm in various battles throughout his career, he orchestrated one of the most devastating defeats in British naval history. His victory preserved Spanish colonial dominance in South America and prevented British expansion in the Caribbean, yet he remains largely unknown outside Spain.
