Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/400

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376
ESQUIVEL
ESTAING

devoted himself to the study of philosophy and theology, becoming distinguished as a professor and preacher. His learning procured for him among his countrymen the title of the " Lacor- daire of America."" Pie was so abashed by the praises that he received, that he retired among the natives and labored among them for some years. Pie was sought out and nominated to the bishopric of Parana, but declined it, and retired to the mis- sionary college of Tarija, in Bolivia, whence he was summoned by the archbishop, who made him professor of theology in the college of Sucre. Here he also edited a literary and philosophical journal, " El Cruzado," his articles in which attracted at- tention throughout Spanish America. His repu- tation led to his nomination as archbishop by the authorities of Buenos Ayres. He again declined, but fearing that he might be compelled to assume the office, he concealed himself, with the consent of his superiors, in different monasteries in Peru until it was filled by another. He then returned to his missionary college of Tarija. In 1875 he sailed for Europe to vi.it the Holy Land. While in Palestine the see of Cordoba became vacant, and he was ordered by the pope to return to South America and assume its duties. He entered Cor- doba barefoot, in his Franciscan habit, and, after his consecration, continued to travel as a mission- ary from town to town throughout his diocese. He acted successfully as a peacemaker in the civil wars, and it was on the occasion of a journey in the heat of summer, to restore peace at Rioja, that he fell sick and died by the road-side.


ESQUIVEL, Juan de (es-ke-vel'), Spanish ad- venturer, b. in Spain about 1480 ; d. in Jamaica about 1519. In 1502, when Ovando was appointed to succeed Bobadilla as governor of Hispaniola, Esquivel went to the island as one of his lieuten- ants. In 1504 Ovando sent him, at the head of 400 men, to subjugate the province of Higuey, which had revolted under the leadership of the famous cacique, Cotabanama. The Indians were defeated and driven to the mountains, but there was soon another insurrection, and Esquivel was again sent by Ovando to subdue the province. This was done after much bloodshed and the cap- ture of the cacique, after which Esquivel found- ed, in 1505, the town of Santa Cruz del Seybo, which was afterward destroyed in the middle of the I8th century by an eartlu'juake. Diego Colum- bus sent Esquivel, in 1509, with seventy men, to take possession of the island of Jamaica on his be- half. In 1509 he reduced it easily, and, in further obedience to his instructions, began a colony and founded the seat of government on the spot where Christopher Columbus had been shipwrecked in 1503, and named it Sevilla Nueva. The Indians betook themselves to the mountains, and stood on their defence ; but Esquivel, after several engage- ments, found means at length to cut off the chiefs. The rest submitted, and were employed in planting cotton and grain. Esquivel introtluced a Spanish breed of cattle, hogs, and horses, and several kinds of garden-stuff were cultivated. By the modera- tion of his government he soon won the Indians into subjection. This commander has been highly extolled for prudent and temperate behavior. The exportation from his colony about the year 1514 had grown to be considerable, and it furnished co- pious supplies of provisions to the Spaniards of the continent and the neighboring islands. Un- fortimately, his rule was short. In the space of ten years, five vessels had been fitted out under his direction, and two new towns wei-e established, which he named Oristan and jMelilla.


ESTAING, Charles Hector, Count d', French naval oOicer, b. in liuvel, Auvergne, France, in 1729; d. in Paris, 28 April, 1794. At the age of sixteen he became colonel of the regiment Rouergue, and brigadier in 1756. In 1757 he was sent to India, and in 1758 took Gondeleur and Fort St. David. He then joined Count Lally, and was made prisoner at Madras in 1759, but was released on parole. After this he joined the navy, was given command of two ships of the East India company, and inflicted great damage on the English while in the east, but on his return was captured near Lorient by British cruisers. He was imprisoned in Portsmouth and subjected to cruel treatment, on the ground that he had broken the parole that he had given in Madras. Admiral Boscawen was then commander-in-chief in India, and often said that, if ever he should get " the villain" in his power again, he " would chain him upon the quarter-deck and treat him like a baboon." D'Estaing seems to have had equally bitter feelings against the English. In 1763 he was made lieutenant-general in the navy, and in 1767 vice-admiral, a rank which he had at first refused. Meanwhile the colonies in America had found an advo- cate at the French court in the per- son of Marie Antoi- nette, who placed in the hands of Louis XVI. a me- moir prepared Ijy the Counts de Mail- lebois and D"Es- taing, which cen- sured the timid policy of the king's ministers. After the defeat of Bur- goyne,6 Feb., 1778, a treaty was con- cluded between the United States and France, and. pur- suant to its stipu-

lations, a fleet of

twelve ships-of-the-iine and four large frigates, under the command of D'Estamg, sailed for America on 13 April, 1778. Early in July D'Estaing reached Delaware bay, and, after landing Conrad A. Gerard, the French ambassador, sailed for New York in hopes of engaging the British fleet, but, being unable to secure a pilot, anchored near the Jersey shore, not far from the mouth of the Shrewsbury river, where he captured several prizes. At the suggestion of Gen. Washington, the French fleet was requested to co-operate with Gen. John Sullivan in the expulsion of the British from Rhode Island. D'Estaing appeared at Newport late in July, and on 5 Aug., 1778, the British burned six frigates in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the French. Events seemed favorable for the capture of the entire British force at Newport, but delays and lack of proper understanding between the two commanders prevented united action. The appearance of the British fleet, and a subsequent storm in which several of the French vessels were seriously injured, led to their withdrawal to Boston for repairs, and the campaign terminated without success. In May, 1779, D'Estaing proposed a joint expedition with his fleet and the American troops to capture Halifax and Newfoundland for the king of France. Washington could not afford to reduce his army by the required number of troops, and the enterprise was