One-Man Show about Revolutionary Hero de Gálvez Here

Revered hero of the American Revolution and the subject of an upcoming major motion biopic, Bernardo de Gálvez, will come to life in a one-man show at Texas A&M International University  (TAMIU) Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Black Box and Theatre. 

Admission is free and open to the public.

The presentation is part of TAMIU’s “Voces, Hispanic Heritage Month ”  observation, which offers a  broad spectrum of activities open to all.

 Héctor L. Diaz, noted re-enactor, educator and a historian on Spanish military life, will portray Gálvez. Diaz, a native of Puerto Rico, has said he is proud to be able to share his understanding of the contributions of Latino Americans through the centuries.

Although France’s role in the American Revolution is well-known, Spain was also crucial in helping create the United States. At the time, the Spanish Empire extended to nearly all of the territory west of the Mississippi. The area included Spanish Louisiana and in 1776 Gálvez, who was 29 years old, was appointed governor of Louisiana.

Although Spain was neutral at the start of the American Revolution, Gálvez was an American sympathizer and tried to help the colonies. He allowed supplies to be shipped north through the Mississippi River to the Ohio River to Pittsburg and finally to Philadelphia. When Spain declared war on Great Britain in August 1779, Gálvez was free to act openly to help the colonies and was an able commander and leader.

He engaged the British on a second front, thus diluting their strength, captured all four British forts in the lower Mississippi, engaged the British at Mobile and defeated the British at the Battle of Pensacola.  He led professional Spanish soldiers, French, German, and Native America militia from Louisiana and black, white and mestizo militia from Cuba, México and the Caribbean. There was even an Irish and an Italian regiment among his troops.

The city of Galveston honors his heroics with its name.

This event is made possible through the generous support of Toni Ruiz.

An online calendar of all ‘Voces’ events through Oct. 15 is available on the University’s web site at http://www.tamiu.edu/newsinfo/voces.shtml

For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu , click on tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 268.

University information is also available on its social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.