William Brown (1777-1857): Irish-born Argentine admiral
- Regarded as one of Argentina's national heroes for his victories in Independence War, Cisplatine War and at Río de la Plata
- Creator/first admiral of Argentina's maritime forces
- Known as the father of the Argentine Navy
- Regarded as one of Argentina's national heroes for his victories in Independence War, Cisplatine War and at Río de la Plata
- Creator/first admiral of Argentina's maritime forces
- Known as the father of the Argentine Navy
ht @seansaid_ @ThisDayIrish "This day 210 years ago - 25 May 1810 - William Brown, a native of Foxford, Co Mayo, founded the Argentine Navy" @ggohom @draziraphale @patmcgrath @mayobhoy @anabrown75 @jhessmorrison @PaulTyredagh81 @roberttroytd @siobhnomorain
Brown was born in Foxford, Co. Mayo on 22 June 1777. His family emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 1786, when he was nine years old. A short time after the arrival, the friend who had invited them and offered them food and hospitality died of yellow fever. @wikipedia
Several days later, William's father also succumbed to the same disease. One morning on the banks of Delaware River, the captain of a ship engaged him as a cabin boy, thereby setting him on the naval promotion ladder, where he worked his way to the captaincy of a merchant vessel.
After ten years on the Atlantic, where he developed his skills as a seaman and reached the level of captain, he was press-ganged into a British ship. British impressment of American sailors was one of the primary issues leading to the War of 1812.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Brown is said to have escaped the galley, scuttling the vessel. The French didn't believe he had helped them, imprisoning him in Lorient. On transfer to Metz, he escaped, disguised in a French officer's uniform. He was recaptured, imprisoned in Verdun.
In 1809 Brown escaped from there in the company of a British colonel named Clutchwell, and eventually reached German territory. Returning to England, he renounced his maritime career and on 29 July 1809, he married Elizabeth Chitty in Kent.
Brown left the same year for the Río de la Plata and set himself up as a merchant in Uruguay. Brown became part-owner of a ship called Eliza, trading between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. When Eliza ran aground, Brown carried his cargo inland and having disposed of it profitably.
He now had sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a schooner, Industria, opening a regular sailing-packet service between Uruguay and Argentina, the first such venture in South America. The Spanish colonial government stepped in sensing a threat to its mercantile interests.
Spanish ships destroyed Brown's schooner, taking drastic steps to nullify the Argentinian threat. Argentina resolved to provide ships to protect her coasts/trade. Brown was commissioned as a Lt Col at the service of the navy and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Argentine fleet
Read more about the subsequent Argentine War of Independence here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine…
In 1847, Admiral Brown visited his native Foxford accompanied by his daughter. cc @StJosephsFoxfrd @FoxfordMill @OHarasofFoxford @Ant2686
On 3 March 1857, he died and was buried with full military honours. His grave is currently located in the Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires.
On 3 March 1857, he died and was buried with full military honours. His grave is currently located in the Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires.
Commemorative stamps showing him were issued in 1957 by the Irish government, and in 1891, 1935 and 1957 by the Argentine government.
Since the mid-1980s, a replica of Brown's sword has been worn by Admirals of the Argentine Navy.
One such replica is on display in @NMMIreland.
Since the mid-1980s, a replica of Brown's sword has been worn by Admirals of the Argentine Navy.
One such replica is on display in @NMMIreland.
Statues and memorials of Brown's battles are located in both Buenos Aires and Foxford, his birthplace in Ireland.
In 2006, Bertie Ahern unveiled a new statue of Brown on Admiral Brown Way, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin (Photo: @wikicommons CC BY-SA 2.0 William Murphy)
In 2006, Bertie Ahern unveiled a new statue of Brown on Admiral Brown Way, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin (Photo: @wikicommons CC BY-SA 2.0 William Murphy)
The ARA Almirante Brown is named after him, as well as a substantial number of other Argentine warships/political entities.
In 1982, @WolfeTones composed/performed a tribute song: "Admiral William Brown".
Since 2012, rugby int'ls between 🇦🇷 and 🇮🇪 compete for Admiral Brown Cup.
In 1982, @WolfeTones composed/performed a tribute song: "Admiral William Brown".
Since 2012, rugby int'ls between 🇦🇷 and 🇮🇪 compete for Admiral Brown Cup.
This daguerreotype was possibly taken after 1848 and maybe as late as the year he died, 1857 -> more from Argentina commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:… (daguerreotypes were produced from 1839 to 1860 globally)
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