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Marshal Alejandro, Conde de O'Reilly (1722, Dublin, Ireland – March 23, 1794, Bonete, Spain 〔de Pedro, Jose Montero (2000), ''The Spanish in New Orleans and Louisiana'', Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company Inc., ISBN 1-56554-685-7〕) (English: Alexander, Count de O'Reilly), was an Irish-born military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century. O'Reilly served as the second Spanish governor of colonial Louisiana, being the first Spanish official to actually exercise power in the Louisiana territory after France ceded it to Spain. For his much-appreciated services to the Crown of Spain, he was ennobled as a ''conde'' (count), and granted a coat of arms. ==Origins and military career== Alexander O'Reilly was born in Dublin in the Kingdom of Ireland in 1722. His grandfather John O’Reilly was a colonel in the army of James II, whose regiment—'O’Reilly’s Dragoons'—fought at the siege of Derry. The family was from Baltrasna, in County Meath but like many so-called "Wild Geese" of his generation, he left Ireland to serve in foreign, Catholic armies. He joined Spanish forces fighting in Italy against the Austrians. After campaigning in the Spanish invasion of Portugal,〔(historicaltextarchive.com "Spanish Arrive in Louisiana, The: The Transformation from a French to a Spanish Colony" )〕 he swore allegiance to Spain and rose to become a brigadier general. O´Reilly stayed acting for the Conde de Ricla, twice a Grandee of Spain, in Havana, Cuba, as his adjutant and second-in-command. While in Havana, Ricla and O'Reilly received the city back from the British forces that had besieged and occupied it at the end of the Seven Years' War. O'Reilly analyzed what had gone wrong with the defenses of Havana during the successful British siege in 1762, and recommended sweeping reforms to improve the fortifications, training, practices, and troop organizations, which were quickly approved by the Spanish Crown. With the help of a military engineer of the Royal Army, Silvestre de la Abarca, the works of the strategic fortress of La Cabaña was undertaken.〔Foster & Reynolds Co(1905), ''Standard Guide to Cuba: A New and Complete Guide to the Island of Cuba'', : Foster & Reynolds; Diamond news Co〕〔(www.oldhavanaweb.com "Fortaleza San Carlos De La Cabaña (The Hut Fortress)" )〕〔(www.havanabuildings.com "San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress" )〕 In 1765, King Carlos III sent O'Reilly to Puerto Rico to assess the state of the defenses of that colony. O'Reilly, known today as the "father of the Puerto Rican militia," took a very complete census of the island and recommended numerous reforms, including the instilling of strict military discipline in the local troops. He insisted that the men serving the defense of the realm receive their pay regularly and directly, rather than indirectly from their commanding officers, a long-standing practice that had led to abuses.〔Ortiz, Altagracia (1983), ''Eighteenth-century Reforms in the Caribbean: Miguel de Muesas, Governor of Puerto Rico, 1769-76'', : Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, ISBN 0-8386-3008-1〕 Some of O'Reilly's recommendations resulted in a massive 20-year programme of building up the Castle of Old San Juan, now a World Heritage Site. Returning to Cuba, O'Reilly married into a prominent Cuban family. His wife, Doña Rosa de Las Casas, was the sister of Luis de Las Casas, who served as Governor of Cuba.〔(www.cervantesvirtual.com "Historia del reinado de Carlos III en España Antonio Ferrer del Río" )〕 O'Reilly was a cousin of Juan MacKenna, a hero of the Chilean War of Independence. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alejandro O'Reilly」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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