Francisco Espoz y Mina

Francisco Espoz y Mina Ilundáin (1781–1836) was a Spanish guerrilla leader and general.

Espoz y Mina is considered the most important guerrillero of the Peninsular War or seven men of the group chose to follow Francisco Espoz, and on 1 April 1810, the Junta of Aragon gave him the command of the guerrilleros of Navarre.

The following July, at Estella, he captured and shot Echevarria, who, under the pretence of being a guerrillero, was in fact a brigand. Echevarria's 600-foot and 200 horse then joined Espoz's men. but failed, and went into exile. His political opinions were democratic and radical, and as a yeoman, he disliked the hidalgos (low-ranking nobles). The Revolution of 1820 brought him back, and he served the Liberal party during the Trienio Liberal in Galicia, Leon and Catalonia. In this last region, he made the only vigorous resistance to the French intervention in favour of Ferdinand VII. On 1 November 1823, he capitulated, and the French allowed him to escape to England by sea. In 1830, he took part in an unsuccessful rising against Ferdinand.

In 1825, Espoz y Mina published A Short Extract from the Life of General Mina, in Spanish and English, in London. Mention is made of him in all histories of the affairs of Spain during the first third of the 19th century.

On the death of the king, he was recalled to Spain, and the government of the regent Christina gave him the command against the Carlists in 1835, though they feared his Radicalism. By this time, years of exposure and wounds had undermined his health. He was also opposed to Tomás de Zumalacárregui, an old officer of his in the War of Independence, and an even greater master of irregular mountain warfare. His health compelled him to resign in April 1835, and his later command in Catalonia was only memorable for the part he took in forcing the regent to grant a constitution in August 1836. He died in Barcelona on 24 December 1836.

His full Memoirs were published by his widow at Madrid in 1851–52.

The Plaza de Mina in Cádiz, Spain, is named after him.