Manuel Macías y Casado

Manuel Macías y Casado, OIC (November 3, 1844 – November 7, 1937) was a Spanish general. He served as Governor-General of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War and as governor of Melilla (in three separate terms), and occupied various other posts. Born in Teruel, Spain, Macías attended the Colegio de Infantería and became a sub-lieutenant at the age of 17. He became a lieutenant in Cuba on January 1, 1863. In December 1863 he was transferred to Santo Domingo. He was promoted to captain in March 1864. He remained in Santo Domingo until 1865.

From 1865 to April 1875, he was stationed again in Cuba. He saw action on Cuba during the Ten Years' War and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and then colonel in March 1874.

Puerto Rico On January 17, 1898, Macías was named Governor General and Captain General of Puerto Rico.

With the eruption of the Spanish–American War, Macías declared martial law, resolving to resist the American forces. He declared: "Providence will not permit that in these countries which were discovered by the Spanish nation the echo of our language should ever cease to be heard, nor that our flag should disappear before the eyes. ... Long live Puerto Rico, always Spanish. Long live Spain." Macías hoped that a grant of autonomy would ensure that Puerto Ricans would remain loyal to the Spanish crown.

After the Spanish–American War He was afterwards named Captain General of Burgos, Navarre, and the Basque Country, and commander-in-chief of the 6th Army Corps.

The Spanish Civil War had been raging for one year when he died at Madrid in 1937. He was ninety-three years old.

Personal life Macías married Concepción Ramírez de Arellano y Cortés (d. 1950). They had seven children: Manuel, Concepción, Carmen, Cristina, the twins Clotilde and Luisa, and Clemente.