José de Solano y Bote

Captain general of the Navy José de Solano y Bote, 1st Marquess of Socorro (March 6, 1726 – March 24, 1806) was a Spanish Navy officer and colonial administrator.

Biography He served an extensive career in the Spanish Navy starting at the age of 16 until his death in 1806. Shortly after joining the Navy in 1742, he participated in the Battle of Toulon against the British Royal Navy. As a result of his performance in that battle he was promoted to the rank of alférez de fragata. In 1754 he was promoted to the rank of capitán de fragata and sent to the Americas as a commissary named by the King with the objective of helping with the demarcation of the limits between Spain and Portugal's holdings.

During this charge Solano spent seven years traveling the Orinoco River and its tributaries as well as making several trips to Bogota in pursuit of additional funding from the Viceroy to support his efforts. When he concluded his assignment he was promoted to the rank of Capitán de Navío in 1761. In 1762, after war broke out with Britain, he took command of Rayo, a ship of the line built in Havana. Solano was governor of Venezuela from 1763 to 1770 and later Governor and Captain General of Santo Domingo (1771–79).

American Revolutionary War

He commanded a Spanish squadron during the American Revolutionary War. For his role in the Siege of Pensacola where he came to the aid of Governor Bernardo de Gálvez in March 1781, Solano was promoted to lieutenant general in 1782. He became the General Captain of the Armada in 1804.