Castaños

Castaños, DON FRANCISCO XAVER DE, Duke of Bailen, a celebrated Spanish general, was born at Madrid in 1756, and studied military tactics in Germany. On the invasion of the country by Napoleon, he received the command of a division of the Spanish army, and in July 1808 compelled 18,000 French, under General Dupont de l'Etang, to surrender at Bailen, but was in his turn defeated by Lannes in November of the same year at Tudela. Under Wellington he served as general of the 4th Spanish corps d'armée, and took part in the battles of Albuera, Salamanca, and Vittoria. In 1815 he was placed at the head of the Spanish army for the invasion of France, which was rendered unnecessary by the victory at Waterloo. In 1825 he was called to the state council, where he became a decided opponent of the Carlist party. He died, aged ninety-six, on 24th September 1852.