Ricardo de Ortega y Diez
Encyclopedia
Ricardo de Ortega y Diez (1838—1917) was a Spanish general. He served as interim Governor-General of Puerto Rico during three periods of the Spanish-American War
, and occupied various other posts. Born in Madrid
, Spain, Ortega y Diez attended the Colegio de Infantería and became a sub-lieutenant at the age of 17.
From 1859 to 1860, he served in Africa obtaining the rank of captain. On May 24, 1873, he received the rank of lieutenant general
and participated in several actions against Carlists
. In early 1880s, he was the Director of the Central Shooting School, inventing a quick loader for rifle
s in 1889.
In 1892, he reached the rank of division general and returned to Africa the following year to work with the tribes of Melilla
. In 1895, he served as Military Governor of Madrid
. On February 19, 1896, he was named second corporal
of the Capitanía General of Puerto Rico
and Military Governor of San Juan
.
After the Spanish-American War
, he received the rank of lieutenant general
in 1901. In 1903 he received the rank of Captain General
of the Balearic Islands
until 1910. That year he turned to the Reserve after 54 years of military service. He died in Madrid
, Spain, on December 3, 1917.
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, and occupied various other posts. Born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, Ortega y Diez attended the Colegio de Infantería and became a sub-lieutenant at the age of 17.
From 1859 to 1860, he served in Africa obtaining the rank of captain. On May 24, 1873, he received the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and participated in several actions against Carlists
Carlism
Carlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
. In early 1880s, he was the Director of the Central Shooting School, inventing a quick loader for rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s in 1889.
In 1892, he reached the rank of division general and returned to Africa the following year to work with the tribes of Melilla
Melilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
. In 1895, he served as Military Governor of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. On February 19, 1896, he was named second corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
of the Capitanía General of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and Military Governor of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
.
After the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, he received the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 1901. In 1903 he received the rank of Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
until 1910. That year he turned to the Reserve after 54 years of military service. He died in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, on December 3, 1917.