O'Donnell

O'Donnell, LEOPOLD, Marshal of Spain, born at Teneriffe, 12th January 1809, was descended from an ancient Irish family. He entered the Spanish army when young, and espoused the cause of the infant Queen Isabella against Don Carlos (see CARLISTS). When the Carlists were overthrown he was created Chief of the Staff to Espartero. He took the side of the queen-mother in 1840, emigrated with her to France, and took up his residence at Orleans, where he planned many of the political risings which took place under the rule of Espartero. In 1843 his intrigues against Espartero (q.v.) were successful; and he was rewarded by the governor-generalship of Cuba, where he amassed a large fortune by favouring the iniquitous trade in slaves. When he returned to Spain (1848) he intrigued against Bravo Murillo and Narvaez; was made war minister by Espartero in 1854; but plotted against his benefactor, and in 1856 supplanted him by a coup d'état. He was in three months' time succeeded by Narvaez, but in 1858 he returned to power; in 1859 he commanded the army in Morocco, and after a tedious campaign took the Moorish camp, and the city of Tetuan surrendered, whereupon he was made Duke of Tetuan. In 1866 his cabinet was upset by Narvaez, and he died at Bayonne, 5th November 1867.