ITURRIBALZAGA, Antonio de (e-toor-re-bal-thah'-gah), Spanish naval officer, born in Motrico, 11 August, 1656; died in 1728. When he was twelve years old his father, a pilot, took him to sea and instructed him in the art of navigation. He was appointed chief pilot in 1686, and served for thirty years in South America. He was commissioned admiral in 1702, and ordered to take command of the Spanish forces in South American waters, but was nevertheless permitted as a special favor to retain the office and the emoluments of chief pilot. He rendered great service to his country by reorganizing the Spanish navy, building navy yards in Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, and designing new models for men-of-war. He successfully opposed the English Admiral Byng in the Mediterranean sea in 1718, and saved in 1726 an immense treasure that had been brought by galleons from New Spain, convoying it safely to Santander. For this, Philip V. pensioned and ennobled him. Iturribalzaga published "Las Reglas y proporciones para la construccion de bajeles," with plans (Seville, 1721), and "Historia de la Nautica en los Dominios Espanoles de America."