Joaquín Zarauz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
After enlisting as a cadet-midshipman in 1775, Zarauz was promoted to successive junior officer ranks, to lieutenant of the 5th Company of the 8th Battalion of the Spanish Marine Infantry in 1778, and to frigate lieutenant in 1782. The following year he was promoted to captain of the 4th Company of the 7th Battalion based at Cádiz and, in 1784 he was promoted to navy lieutenant.[1]
In 1785, he embarked on the 70-gun Triunfante, sailing to Malta and back to Cartagena, where he was given command of the galley Concepción, command he held until 1789. Zarauz then served in the squadrons of Antonio Barceló, Juan de Lángara and Federico Gravina.[1]
Promoted to frigate captain in 1796, Zarauz, as second-in-command, served on board Santa Ana, Príncipe, San Hermenegildo and the San Fernando, after which he was given command of the frigate Diana until she was dismantled.[1]
Zarauz was then given command of the San Fulgencio, on board which he participated at the defence of Ferrol in 1800. At the end on 1801 he was given command of the Ferroleña, setting sail for Lima. Anchored at Manila, he was given orders by General Álava to set sail for China to buy flour for the fleet, with 850,000 pesos in cash. Caught up in a typhoon, the ship was smashed against the rocks off the coast of Guangzhou.[1] Promoted to captain, and back in Spain, in 1806, he was appointed military commander of Ferrol.[1]