José Agustín de Lecubarri
José Agustín de Lecubarri | |
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![]() Portrayed wearing the uniform of the Order of Charles III, August 1845 | |
Consul General of Spain to the United Kingdom | |
In office 1833–1840 | |
Monarchs | Isabella II William IV |
Ambassador of Spain to The Austrian Empire | |
In office 1842–1847 | |
Monarchs | Isabella II Francis II |
Personal details | |
Born | 25 June 1802 London, England |
Died | 6 January 1874 Bilbao, Spain |
Signature | ![]() |
José Agustín de Lecubarri y Gorostiza, KB (25 June 1802 – 6 January 1874), was an Anglo-Spanish diplomat, naval officer and peer, who was noted for being the youngest person ever to be named Consul General and hold office for foreign affairs. His significant diplomatic achievements during the First Carlist War earned him the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, as well as the Order of Charles III.
Early years
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/De_Lecubarri%2C_Jos%C3%A9_A._%28young%29.png/220px-De_Lecubarri%2C_Jos%C3%A9_A._%28young%29.png)
Lecubarri was born in London into an ancient Spanish noble House, son of the Franco-Spanish Hussar cavalry officer Manuel de Lecubarri y Uraga and Manuela Gorostiza y Egusqueaguirre.[1] He returned to Spain briefly following his birth to be baptised through the Catholic Church 2 August 1802, at the Church of Saint Vincent near Bilbao.[2] His father, grandson of the navy officer Juan Nepomuceno de Lecubarri and descendant of the House of Poitiers, educated him with tutors until 1813, when he enrolled at Stonyhurst and later Eton College in 1815. As expressed by him in letters, he loathed his time at school and felt alienated by his Roman Catholic background.
José Agustín de Lecubarri was brought up in a wealthy family, which allowed him to read Ancient history at Oriel College, Oxford until 1824, year in which he returned to Spain to enter the Navy.
His military career began on 4 September 1824 as Midshipman, rising to Frigate Ensign in June 1825 aboard the frigate Aretusa, thereafter promoted to captain of said frigate in January 1828. Such actions as captain earned him the Cross to Naval Merit.
Diplomatic career
In 1833, he left the Navy to devote himself to diplomacy. Back in London he joins as Consul General of Spain to the United Kingdom, being the youngest in history to hold such office. Lecubarri and the ambassador, Juan Nepomuceno Vial, managed to consolidate an exceptional relationship with mutually supportive policies, which would serve as a breeding ground for the sending of troops by the British Government in the First Carlist War. The British Auxiliary Legion became a determining factor in the course of the war.[3]
On 30 July 1835 the first battalion of the British Auxiliary Legion arrived in Santander, with the rest of the troops arriving throughout the summer. 1000 soldiers received shelter in the city, while another 4000 settled in the Monastery of Monte Corbán[4] At the end of the summer of 1836, a number close to 10,000 men of the unit were concentrated in the outskirts of San Sebastián led by George De Lacy Evans who in turn was under the command of the General Luis Fernández de Córdova.
His services to the crown during the beginning of the First Carlist War earned him the cross of the Order of Charles III. Subsequently, and as a reward for his encouragement of favourable relations and cooperation between Spain and his country of birth, the queen Isabela II imposed him the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1847.
Despite his loyal allegiance to Queen Isabella, José Agustín de Lecubarri confessed his inclination towards the old order several times, praising the war achievements of the Infante Carlos María Isidro on numerous occasions.[5]
He died on 6 January 1874 in Bilbao, Spain.
Honours
National
House of Bourbon: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1847)
House of Bourbon: Knight Cross of the Order of Charles III (1834)
House of Bourbon: White Cross of Naval Merit (1829)
Foreign
House of Habsburg-Lorraine: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold
House of Hanover: Knight Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (1836)
Heraldry
- Heraldry of José Agustín de Lecubarri
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Coat of Arms of José Agustín de Lecubarri as Cross of the Order of Charles III (1834-1874)
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Coat of Arms of José Agustín de Lecubarri as Knight of the Order of the Bath (1836-1874)
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Coat of Arms of José Agustín de Lecubarri as Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1847-1874)
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- ^ "Geneall.net".
- ^ Baptism certificate. Reference code: ES/AHEB-BEHA/F006.038 (0272/001-00)
- ^ Estado Mayor de la Armada española. Historia de los birgadieres que más se han distinguido, acompañada de sus retratos de cuerpo entero.
- ^ Santander. Una historia de vientos y mareas, Cáceres Blanco, Francisco I.
- ^ Letter to his Excellency the Duke of Osuna, January 1846. Letters of J.A de Lecubarri