Juan Garcia was a 17th century Spanish privateer. He was among a number of Spaniards who served the Spanish Crown as Dunkirkers

Dunkirkers

During the Dutch Revolt the Dunkirkers or Dunkirk Privateers, were commerce raiders in the service of the Spanish Monarchy. They were also part of the Dunkirk fleet, which consequently was a part of the Spanish Monarchy's Flemish fleet ...

 during the Eighty Years' War. Both he and Pedro de la Plesa

Pedro de la Plesa

Pedro de la Plesa was a 17th century Spanish privateer. He served as a Dunkirker in the service of the Spanish Crown during the Eighty Years' War...

 were caught by the Dutch Republic

Dutch Republic

The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...

 naval force as they attempted to break through a blockade of Dunkirk. He and de la Plesa were accused of leaving Captain Jan Jacobsen

Jan Jacobsen

Jan Jacobsen was a Flemish naval commander and Dunkirker during the Eighty Years' War. He became a posthumous hero when, after battling an enemy fleet for over 13 hours, he destroyed his own ship rather than surrender.-Biography:...

 to face nine pursuing Dutch warships alone.

Biography

In October 1622, he and Pedro de la Plesa left Duinkerken with Jan Jacobsen

Jan Jacobsen

Jan Jacobsen was a Flemish naval commander and Dunkirker during the Eighty Years' War. He became a posthumous hero when, after battling an enemy fleet for over 13 hours, he destroyed his own ship rather than surrender.-Biography:...

 attempting to break through the blockade imposed on the city by the Dutch Republic

Dutch Republic

The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...

. However, a Dutch yacht spotted Pedro de la Plesa as he sailed out of Oostende. The ship's captain, Jacob Volckertzoon Vinck, immediately sailed to a small fleet stationed nearby. Its commander, Admiral Harman Kleuter, set off after the blockade runners at once and was later joined by another squadron under Captain Lambert Hendrikszoon. Garcia and Pedro de la Plesa fled instantly upon encountering the fleet, however Jacobsen stayed behind to fight the nine pursuing warships. Both because of his heroic last stand

Last stand

Last stand is a loose military term used to describe a body of troops holding a defensive position in the face of overwhelming odds. The defensive force usually takes very heavy casualties or is completely destroyed, as happened in "Custer's Last Stand" at the Battle of Little Big HornBryan Perrett...

, as well as for covering his comrades' escape, Jacobsen and his crew became national heroes.

Further reading

• Duquesne, Jacques. Jean Bart. Paris: Seuil, 1992.
• Histoire de la Société Dunkerquoise. Mémoires de la Société Dunkerquoise pour L'Encouragement des Sciences, des Lettres et des Arts. Dunkerque: Typographie de Vanderest, 1855.
• Vrijman, L.C. Kaapvaart en zeerooverij; uit de geschiedenis der vrije nering in de Lage Landen. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen & Zoon, 1983.