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TOPETE, Juan Bautista (to-pay'-tay), Spanish naval officer, born in Tlacotalpan, Mexico, 24 May, 1821. His parents retired to Spain after the country had won its independence, and he entered the Spanish navy as a midshipman. In 1865 he was post-captain, commanding one of the ships of the Spanish fleet in the Pacific, and after the suicide of Admiral Jose de Pareja, when Admiral Mendez Nunez assumed command, Topete became second commander of the expedition with the rank of commodore, and participated in the bombardment of Valparaiso, 31 March, 1866, and in the attack on Callao, 2 May, 1866, where he was dangerously wounded. When Admiral Nuriez sailed in the "Numancia" on a voyage round the world, Topete assumed command of the rest of the fleet, which he brought back to Spain in 1867. He was promoted rear-admiral and commander of the ironclad squadron at Cadiz, and pronounced against the government, 17 September, 1868, with General Prim, who arrived on board the fleet on 19 September He became a member of the provisional government as secretary of the navy on 8 October, and was later returned to the constituent cortes by the city ofMadrid. During his administration he took vigorous measures against the insurgents in Cuba, and obtained, in April, 1869, supplementary credits for that purpose. He was a stanch supporter of the candidacy of Montpensier, left the cabinet in November, 1869, to become vice-president of the cortes, was again secretary of the navy, 10 January, 1870, and secretary for the colonies in Sagasta's cabinet in December, 1871. Under Serrano's regency he was provisional president of the cabinet till 3 June, 1872, secretary of the navy and war till the suspension of constitutional guarantees, 24 June, 1872, and during the republic retired from service. After the virtual fall of the republic he held again, from 3 January till 12 May, 1874, the portfolio of the navy under Serrano, and accompanied him to the seat of war, taking part in the relief of Bilbao, 25-27 March, 1874, where he was severely wounded. After the accession of Alfonso XII., 12 December, 1874, he retired to private life.
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