Juan Manuel Pareja
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral José Manuel de Pareja y Septien (Lima
, 8 February 1813 – Valparaíso
, 28 November 1865) was a Spanish naval officer, who commanded the Spanish forces during the Chincha Islands War
(1864-1866).
in 1813, the son of Brigadier José Antonio Pareja (1757–1813) and Josepha Septien. After the independence of Peru
(1821), his family returned to Spain and he joined the Spanish navy.
was disapproved in Madrid.
On January 27, 1865, he signed the Vivanco-Pareja Treaty
which was considered derogatory to Peruvian national honor. A general uprising followed in Peru and the government of General Juan Antonio Pezet
fell on July 7, 1865.
After Chile, in support of Peru, had refused to sell supplies to the Spanish fleet, Pareja went with his fleet to Valparaiso
on September 17, 1865 and demanded a public apology. As his demands for satisfaction were refused, he declared war against Chile
on the 24th, and proceeded to blockade the principal Chilean ports.
During the last weeks of his life, he suffered a series of setbacks in his handling of the War
. On November 17 an armed launch of the frigate Resolution was captured by the Allied steamer Independencia near the port of Talcahuano
. He could make no positive advances in his war with Chile, his blockade deteriorated, became ineffective and the crews of the ships became demoralized. The proud Admiral was unaware that on November 26 the Chileans had captured the Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga
, along with the Admiral's correspondence, at the Naval Battle of Papudo
and that during the fight the Spaniards had 4 men dead and 21 wounded. When on November 27 the American
Consul casually mentioned it, the Admiral suffered a nervous collapse. It was too much for him. The Covadonga was the second warship lost by Spain (after the loss of the Triunfo) in enemy waters. The next day, November 28, Admiral Pareja dressed in his best uniform, laid down on his bed, and shot himself in the head on board his flag-ship, the Villa de Madrid, in front of Valparaiso
. In his testament, he requested not to be buried in Chilean waters; accordingly, he was buried on the high seas.
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, 8 February 1813 – Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, 28 November 1865) was a Spanish naval officer, who commanded the Spanish forces during the Chincha Islands War
Chincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile from 1864 to 1866, that began with Spain's seizure of the guano-rich Chincha Islands, part of a series of attempts by Isabel II of Spain to reassert her country's lost...
(1864-1866).
Youth and early career
Pareja was born in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
in 1813, the son of Brigadier José Antonio Pareja (1757–1813) and Josepha Septien. After the independence of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
(1821), his family returned to Spain and he joined the Spanish navy.
The Chincha Islands War
Pareja was sent to the Pacific in 1864 to relieve Admiral Luis Hernández Pinzón, whose seizure of the Chincha IslandsChincha Islands
The Chincha Islands are a group of three small islands 21 km off the southwest coast of Peru, to which they belong, near the town of Pisco,...
was disapproved in Madrid.
On January 27, 1865, he signed the Vivanco-Pareja Treaty
Vivanco-Pareja Treaty
The Vivanco-Pareja Treaty was a treaty between Peru and Spain, signifying cooperation between the two nations during the Chincha Islands War. It was signed on January 27, 1865, on board the frigate Villa de Madrid, by Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco and José Manuel Pareja .As a...
which was considered derogatory to Peruvian national honor. A general uprising followed in Peru and the government of General Juan Antonio Pezet
Juan Antonio Pezet
Juan Antonio Pezet was a Peruvian military officer and politician who served in the positions of Secretary of War, Vice President and President of Peru during his life...
fell on July 7, 1865.
After Chile, in support of Peru, had refused to sell supplies to the Spanish fleet, Pareja went with his fleet to Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
on September 17, 1865 and demanded a public apology. As his demands for satisfaction were refused, he declared war against Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
on the 24th, and proceeded to blockade the principal Chilean ports.
During the last weeks of his life, he suffered a series of setbacks in his handling of the War
Chincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile from 1864 to 1866, that began with Spain's seizure of the guano-rich Chincha Islands, part of a series of attempts by Isabel II of Spain to reassert her country's lost...
. On November 17 an armed launch of the frigate Resolution was captured by the Allied steamer Independencia near the port of Talcahuano
Talcahuano
Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:...
. He could make no positive advances in his war with Chile, his blockade deteriorated, became ineffective and the crews of the ships became demoralized. The proud Admiral was unaware that on November 26 the Chileans had captured the Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga
Covadonga (ship)
The schooner Virgen de Covadonga was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War and the War of the Pacific, under Spanish and Chilean flags. She was launched in 1859...
, along with the Admiral's correspondence, at the Naval Battle of Papudo
Battle of Papudo
The Naval Battle of Papudo was a naval engagement fought between Spanish and Chilean forces on November 26, 1865, during the Chincha Islands War...
and that during the fight the Spaniards had 4 men dead and 21 wounded. When on November 27 the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Consul casually mentioned it, the Admiral suffered a nervous collapse. It was too much for him. The Covadonga was the second warship lost by Spain (after the loss of the Triunfo) in enemy waters. The next day, November 28, Admiral Pareja dressed in his best uniform, laid down on his bed, and shot himself in the head on board his flag-ship, the Villa de Madrid, in front of Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
. In his testament, he requested not to be buried in Chilean waters; accordingly, he was buried on the high seas.