Fernando Martínez de Espinosa y Echeverri

Fernando Martínez de Espinosa y Echeverri was a Spanish admiral and the second Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy. He held the post from 19 March[1] until 22 October 1896.[2] In the summer of 1895 Espinosa had commanded the Spanish squadron that represented their country at the opening of the Kiel Canal from the Infanta Maria Teresa.[3] During the Spanish–American War, he was present at a meeting of senior Spanish naval officers chaired by Segismundo Bermejo y Merelo, the minister of the navy at the time, on 23 April 1898. Espinosa supported the idea of sending Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete's squadron from Cape Verde to the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean (Cuba and Puerto Rico). This decision was adopted by the majority of the members which led to the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.[4] Espinosa was made Commander of the Order of Charles III in 1882[5] and awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild on 30 October 1889.[6]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Espinosa and the second or maternal family name is Echeverri.

References

1. Reales decretos nombrando Jefe de Estado Mayor de la Armada, á D. Fernando Martínez; Vocal del Centro Consultivo, á D. Domingo de Castro; Comandante general de la Carraca, á D. Pascual Cervera; Comandante de Marina de Sevilla, a Don José Guzmán, y Jefe de Estado Mayor del Departamento de Cartagena; á D. José María Pilón. Gaceta de Madrid núm. 79, de 19/03/1896, página 948.
2. Reales decretos disponiendo cesen en los cargos, de Jefe de Estado Mayor general de la Armada, D. Fernando Martínez; de Director del personal del Ministerio de Marina, D. Segismundo Bermejo; del Vocal del Centro Consultivo, D. Marcial Sánchez, y de Segundo Jefe del Apostadero de Filipinas, D. Antonio Rocha. Gaceta de Madrid úm. 296, de 22/10/1896, página 237.
3. Engineering (1895), vol. 59, p. 727
4. Information from abroad: War notes, Issues 1-8 (1899), Office of Naval Intelligence, pp. 63–64
5. Emilio de Cárdenas Piera (1996). Propuestas, solicitudes y decretos de la Real y muy distinguida Orden de Carlos III, p. 113
6. Guía oficial de España (1904), p. 506

Military offices
Preceded by Zoilo Sánchez de Ocaña y Vieitiz	Chief of Staff of the Navy 1896	Succeeded by Segismundo Bermejo y Merelo