QUESADA, Manuel de, Cuban patriot, born in Puerto Principe about 1830; died in Costa Rica in 1886. In 1853 he emigrated to Mexico on account of his political ideas, and entered the army, serving under Juarez against the empire. He was soon distinguished by his bravery, was brevetted brigadier-general, and became governor of Coahuila and Durango. When the Cuban insurrection began in 1868, he fitted out an expedition in the United States and landed at Guanaja, on the northern part of the island, in December of the same year. He devoted his attention to organizing the Cuban forces and was appointed their commander-in-chief. In this capacity he took part in several engagements, especially at Sabana Grande and Las Tunas, where he defeated the Spanish troops. In 1870 he was deprived of his command by the Cuban congress, and left the island. He then made a tour in the United States and the South American republics in search of aid for the Cuban cause, and succeeded in sending a few expeditions with arms and ammunitions to the patriots, among others one in the steamer " Virginius," which was captured by the Spaniards. Among those of the crew that were executed at Santiago de Cuba was a son of Quesada. After the close of the Cuban insurrection he settled in Costa Rica, where he was employed by the government.