Pascual Cervera y Topete

The Most Excellent Pascual Cervera
Minister of the Navy
In office 14 December 1892 – 23 March 1893
Monarch	Alfonso XIII of Spain
Prime Minister	Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Preceded by	José López Domínguez
Succeeded by	Manuel Pasquín de Juan
Personal details
Born	(1839-02-18)February 18, 1839 Medina-Sidonia, Cádiz province, Spain
Died	April 3, 1909(1909-04-03) (aged 70) Puerto Real, Cádiz province, Spain
Resting place	Panteón de Marinos Ilustres, San Fernando, Cádiz province, Spain
Military service
Allegiance	Spain
Branch/service	Spanish Navy
Years of service	1858–1907
Rank	Almirante (Admiral)
Commands	Navy Staff Cuba Squadron Ministry of the Navy Cartagena harbor Battleship Pelayo Corvette Ferolana Corvette Santa Lucia Schooner Circe
Battles/wars	Ten Years' War Spanish–Moroccan War Spanish–Moro conflict Storming of Fort Paganlungan Third Carlist War Cantonal rebellion Spanish–American War Battle of Santiago de Cuba

Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete (18 February 1839, Medina-Sidonia, Cádiz, Spain – 3 April 1909, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain) was a prominent Spanish naval officer with the rank of Almirante (admiral) who served in a number of high positions within the Spanish Navy and had fought in several wars during the 19th century. Having served in Morocco, the Philippines, and Cuba, he went on to be Spain's naval minister, chief of naval staff, naval attaché in London, the captain of several warships, and most notably, commander of the Cuba Squadron during the Spanish–American War. Although he believed that the Spanish Navy was suffering from multiple problems and that there was no chance for victory over the United States Navy, Cervera took command of the squadron and fought in a last stand during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.