Patricio Montojo

Patricio Montojo was a Spanish admiral who commanded the Spanish Pacific fleet during the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. His fleet was anchored east of Cavite, near Manila. The Spanish force included his flagship, the cruiser Reina Cristina, and several other vessels, supported by a shore battery.1

During the battle, the U.S. Navy, under Commodore George Dewey, decisively defeated Montojo's fleet. The American ships made repeated passes, inflicting heavy damage on the Spanish vessels. By the time Dewey re-engaged after a breakfast break, Spanish ships were in flames. The battle resulted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet and contributed to the U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War, leading to the fall of the Philippines.1