Patricio Montojo

Patricio Montojo y Pasarón was a Spanish Navy officer who commanded Spain's Pacific Squadron based in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Considered a man of high ability and experience, he was given the difficult task of defending the Spanish Philippines with a small navy and low supplies against a larger U.S. Asiatic Squadron. Despite his valor and determination, Montojo's navy was defeated at the decisive Battle of Manila Bay by a United States Navy squadron under Commodore George Dewey. He was later held accountable for the defeat and was court-martialed in Spain. Although the decision was later overturned, Montojo was still discharged from the Spanish Navy.