José María Coppinger
Encyclopedia
José Coppinger was a prominent Cuban soldier and governor who served the Royal Army's Infantry and ruled the Plaza de St Augustine, Florida and Spanish East Florida
between 1816 and 1821. He was a Gentleman Military Order of San Fernando and San Hermenegildo.
, Cuba
on April 5, 1773 (although according to other sources, he was born in Bayamo
, Cuba in 1800 ) and he was baptized on July 18 at the Cathedral of Havana. He was the son of Cornelius Coppinger and O'Brien and of María Dolores López De Gamara. His father was of Irish origin that in 1767 became a naturalized Spanish and his mother was Cuban, though his family was originally from Seville
, passing this to Cuba in the seventeenth century. José María grew under Catholic religion. In 1797 he was Captain of the Regiment of Hibernia and Assistant Mayor of Second Battalion. Some years later, in 1801, Jose Maria became the political and military governor of the New Filipina (current Pinar del Río
) and the town of Bayamo, Cuba. Later, in 1814, he settled in Trinidad
and became Captain of War of the Cuatro Villas. José María abandoned this position in 1817, to become, in the same year, the Acting Military Governor of the Plaza de St. Augustine
of Florida
and East Florida
, replacing Brigadier Kindelan. He held this post until 1820. However, on January 28, 1825 he ruled only parts of Cuba and Florida, but he also became governor of the castle and the Plaza de San Juan de Ulúa
in Mexico., being the last Spanish governor of this place. He participated in the battle of Spanish and Mexicans during the attempt reconquest
of San Juan de Úlua, in the Spanish side. According to some sources he died on August 15, 1844, in Cárdenas, Cuba. According to other sources, (although these are less reliable) died on March 6, 1888 in Havana, Cuba but he was buried in St. Augustine.
area, Georgia
, changing its name and married, then with Narcisa Armenteros. To return later to Havana.
East Florida
East Florida was a colony of Great Britain from 1763–1783 and of Spain from 1783–1822. East Florida was established by the British colonial government in 1763; as its name implies it consisted of the eastern part of the region of Florida, with West Florida comprising the western parts. Its capital...
between 1816 and 1821. He was a Gentleman Military Order of San Fernando and San Hermenegildo.
Biography
José María Lopez de Gamarra and Coppinger was born in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on April 5, 1773 (although according to other sources, he was born in Bayamo
Bayamo
Bayamo is the capital city of the Granma Province of Cuba, and one of the largest cities in the Oriente region.The community of Bayamo lies on a plain by the Bayamon River...
, Cuba in 1800 ) and he was baptized on July 18 at the Cathedral of Havana. He was the son of Cornelius Coppinger and O'Brien and of María Dolores López De Gamara. His father was of Irish origin that in 1767 became a naturalized Spanish and his mother was Cuban, though his family was originally from Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, passing this to Cuba in the seventeenth century. José María grew under Catholic religion. In 1797 he was Captain of the Regiment of Hibernia and Assistant Mayor of Second Battalion. Some years later, in 1801, Jose Maria became the political and military governor of the New Filipina (current Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
) and the town of Bayamo, Cuba. Later, in 1814, he settled in Trinidad
Trinidad, Cuba
-External links:* , Online travel guide to Trinidad* , Selected photos of Trinidad* , Photos of Trinidad...
and became Captain of War of the Cuatro Villas. José María abandoned this position in 1817, to become, in the same year, the Acting Military Governor of the Plaza de St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and East Florida
East Florida
East Florida was a colony of Great Britain from 1763–1783 and of Spain from 1783–1822. East Florida was established by the British colonial government in 1763; as its name implies it consisted of the eastern part of the region of Florida, with West Florida comprising the western parts. Its capital...
, replacing Brigadier Kindelan. He held this post until 1820. However, on January 28, 1825 he ruled only parts of Cuba and Florida, but he also became governor of the castle and the Plaza de San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa, also known as Castle of San Juan de Ulúa is a large complex of fortresses, prisons and one former palace on an island overlooking the seaport of Veracruz, Mexico.-History:...
in Mexico., being the last Spanish governor of this place. He participated in the battle of Spanish and Mexicans during the attempt reconquest
Spanish reconquest of Mexico
The Spanish reconquest attempts in Mexico were episodes of war in Mexico that were comprised in clashes between the newly born Mexican nation and Spain, mainly covered two periods first attempts from 1821 to 1825 and the defense of territorial waters and second period divided into two stages...
of San Juan de Úlua, in the Spanish side. According to some sources he died on August 15, 1844, in Cárdenas, Cuba. According to other sources, (although these are less reliable) died on March 6, 1888 in Havana, Cuba but he was buried in St. Augustine.
Personal life
Jose Maria Coppinger married with Cuban Antonia Maria Josefa Crescencia De Saravia in the Parish of Santo Christo del Buen Viaje in Havana on July 11, 1797, and they had four children: Maria de la Trinidad, Jose Maria, José Cornelius and María Antonia Coppinger and Saravia. But later, he Know to his new wife, Narcisa Armenteros Muñoz and moved to St. Augustine of the SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
area, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, changing its name and married, then with Narcisa Armenteros. To return later to Havana.
External links
- http://books.google.es/books?id=b5N_-gr9us8C&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=Jos%C3%A9+Mar%C3%ADa+Coppinger&source=bl&ots=n51lGKVLm1&sig=NnRtqBtJTB8_gr0YSIdYE25ztig&hl=es&ei=l8oWTNOlA4i80gTVk_jACw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q=Jos%C3%A9%20Mar%C3%ADa%20Coppinger&f=false. Osceola's legacy, by Patricia Riles Wickman.