uses spanish naming customs paternal family second maternal family february madrid spanish artillery officer leaders signalled start spanish war independence surname derived town descended long line spanish gentry associations dating great grandfather married daughter count los spent early life palaces owned family born receiving catholic education trained saw action spanish north_africa commended bravery promoted lieutenant served french short lived war captured refusing serve french army imprisoned release served participating convoy duty americas rewarded promotion captain tired sea rejoined artillery regiment subsequent duties included assisting manufacture new guns horse artillery attending signing treaty france participating invasion portugal returned madrid leader assisted civilians resisting french efforts remove royal family spain defence barracks action day spanish army fought french ultimately unsuccessful inspired spanish war independence died fighting commemorated national hero ancestry oldest known ancestor named town fought spain members family subsequently served militia including fought battle las decisive christian victory turning point ancestors fought 15th century war 16th century conquest naples 17th century flanders great grandfather sheriff gibraltar century forced hand territory british family subsequently moving changing surname grandson martin married daughter count los son born palace owned family early life born february baptised day lived childhood palace spending summers house renamed educated san jesuit college age parents decided officer families considered career suitable gentleman father able arrange necessary enter artillery corps permitted commissions entered cadet february graduated ensign february according entrance report dark brown hair large eyes small stature feet tall school excelled mathematics sports particular fencing able speak french english italian latin addition native spanish graduation assigned royal regiment artillery puerto santa maria able use considerable private income property farms owned family gibraltar supplement official salary army career volunteered help defend given command artillery battery remained north_africa assist defence spending time unit miners commended superiors including artillery courage zeal battles promoted lieutenant february spain joined coalition revolutionary france participated war march captured french counterattack november held prisoner war turned offer freedom commission short artillery officers peace ended war france spain july released way spain signed second treaty san france great_britain beginning anglo spanish war july placed charge commanded admiral british blockading squadron defence involved attack british rate hms powerful later year short trained officers service aboard gun ship sailed twice vessel americas escorting time assisted ship captain acting translator negotiations foreign officials found time write short treatise instruction soldiers sailors whilst ship havana cuba november reading issues gazette surprised find promoted captain march whilst sea enjoy long trips away spain requested land based posting serving initially lieutenant infantry joining newly formed july stayed aboard seen action ship battle december ordered general sat committee headed decide design oversee production new light guns horse artillery agreed marriage ceremony taking place spring year commander spanish attended signing treaty agreement spain france split portugal smaller states franco spanish force invaded portugal enforce treaty moved regiment madrid took command battery 2nd company sources 3rd company palace duke known men command grandfather relative age good temperament treaty french troops began arrive spain occupy strategic points marshal ordered madrid troops began taking control main palaces barracks city spanish troops garrison presence french garrison resented populace restrained fighting duel french soldier insulting spain tavern crowd hearing french plans send members spanish royal family away france gathered outside royal palace madrid protest known fighting started british consul recorded french troops firing musket crowded square fighting spread madrid french troops dispatched possession spanish barracks secure arms ammunition highest ranking officer barracks found command officers men sought reinforcements regimental headquarters returned 3rd company men officers orders local remain barracks operate french forces captain decided french troops hostile spain defend barracks french interference time large crowd civilians gathered barracks requesting weapons oppose french ordered opened cannon soldiers armed civilians command arrangements defence barracks battery pounder guns placed main gate facing street loaded shot military civilian crews small detachment french stationed near barracks captured weapons ammunition distributed civilians according hunter french troops advanced street possession barracks fired killed halted await reinforcements occupy neighbouring buildings soon french commanding officer general men area french battalions including unit assaults guns repulsed captured french colonel wave french troops reached artillery lines fired barracks killing defenders including charging fixed hunter claimed shot hip continued issue orders despite wound wounded twice whilst fighting french sabre said stabbed bayonet killed whilst approaching french officer waving white flag truce dying dragged away men continued fight barracks buildings surrendering request spanish captain general spanish held superior french numbers hours years old died years continuous service aftermath french surgeon said insisted treating tending men efforts vain buried alongside men spearheaded uprising alongside killed artillery officer managed escape members went city asking resistance stop morning calm restored marshal convened military tribunal chaired general morning try sentence found possession potential weapon lost lives artist witnessed aftermath executions painted famous painting commemorate event fighting executions claimed french spanish lives inspired resistance french country signalling start spanish war independence death wife entered convent legacy commemorated leader initial resistance french rule spain remembered monuments country ashes involved dos uprising transferred los madrid construction monument originally served memorial lost lives dos november king redesignated memory died war serves spain national tomb unknown soldier plaque erected spot house stood replaced twice statue depicting pivotal moment decided orders resist french monument commemorating liberty died stands spot executions contains representations monument stands studied artillery academy madrid statues lions stand outside spanish congress deputies building popularly known military honour awarded years artillery officer award memory services nation preceding years honorary sabre presented monarch ceremony held
Luis Daoíz y Torres