Recognition of Bernardo de Gálvez, and the image of Spain in the U.S.

Abstract

The image projected by a country on another country —in this case, Spain on the U.S.— is in the interest of sociologists, political scientist, and, especially, entrepreneurs who want to invest or trade with such a huge market, bearing in mind that the valuation of their products would not be only based on objective elements, but on notions of status and excellence associated with the exporting country; these elements includes the history and the shared culture, among other factors. The help given by France to the Independence War of the United States is currently known and recognised, and Marquis de Lafayette is an American hero; nevertheless, the help given by Spain, equally important, has been forgotten. However, native of Málaga Bernardo de Gálvez, who served in the army, recovered both banks of the Mississippi River and the strongholds of West Florida from Great Britain, blocking the accces of the British fleet and army in the Gulf of Mexico and the Old Bahama Channel, was practically unknown, until last year when the Congress named him «honorary citizen» of the United States. The most famous exploit of this campaign was when Gálvez decided to sail alone under the fire of the British battery defending the Port Pensacola; he miraculously survived to this risky venture. While boarding on the Galveston brig, he said: «Those brave enough follow me». In other words, «Those sharing my hope, my ambition, my self-commitment, my courage». This is the action of a leader who practises what he preaches, that can be applied as well both to the business and the political spheres. Therefore, civil society institutions —including entrepreneurs trading with the United States— supported from Spain a greater recognition of the Pensacola hero within the United States.