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Alexander O'Reilly

Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly by Francisco José de Goya.jpg
Governor of Louisiana
In office
April 1769 – December 1769
Monarch Charles III
Preceded by Antonio de Ulloa
Succeeded by Luis de Unzaga
Personal details
Born 1722
Dublin, Ireland
Died March 23, 1794
Bonete, Spain
Military service
Nickname(s) Bloody O'Reilly
Allegiance Spain Ferdinand VI
Spain Charles III
Spain Charles IV
Service/branch Spanish Army
Rank Marshal of Spain
Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War
French Revolutionary Wars

Marshal Alejandro, Conde de O'Reilly (Spanish pronunciation: [aleˈxandro oɾeiˈʎi]; 1722, Dublin, Ireland – March 23, 1794, Bonete, Spain ) (English: Alexander, Count de O'Reilly), was an Irish-born military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century. O'Reilly served as the second Spanish governor of colonial Louisiana, and was the first Spanish official to exercise power in the Louisiana territory after France ceded it to Spain following defeat by Great Britain in the Seven Years' War. For his much-appreciated services to the Crown of Spain, O'Reilly was ennobled as a conde (count), and granted a coat of arms.

Alexander O'Reilly (Irish: Ó Raghallaigh) was born in Dublin in the Kingdom of Ireland in 1722. His grandfather John Reyly was a colonel in the army of James II, whose regiment—O’Reilly’s Dragoons—fought at the siege of Derry. The family was from Baltrasna, in County Meath. Like many so-called "Wild Geese" of his generation, O'Reilly left Ireland to serve in foreign, Catholic armies. He joined Spanish forces fighting in Italy against the Austrians. After campaigning in the Spanish invasion of Portugal, O'Reilly swore allegiance to Spain and rose to become a brigadier general.


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