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GRAU, Miguel
(graouw), Peruvian naval officer, born in Piura in June, 1834; died at sea, 8
October, 1879. He shipped on board a merchant vessel at the age of ten years,
and, after spending a short time at the naval school of Callao, became, in 1852,
a midshipman in the Peruvian navy.
He joined in the revolt of 1856 against the government of
Castilla, and, on its suppression in 1858, returned to the merchant service. He
re-entered the navy in 1860, was given command of the "Lersundi," and in 1865,
when the war with Spain began, had reached the rank of captain. He took a
distinguished part in the combat of Abtao in October, and on 2 May, 1866,
participated in the defense of Callao against the Spanish bombardment, in
command of the monitor "Manco Capac." He afterward took command of the
turret-ship "Huascar."
In 1875 he was a deputy to congress, and a supporter of the
government of Manuel Pardo. He was appointed director of the naval academy, and
when the war against Chili began, 5 April, 1879, held the rank of rear-admiral.
He at once joined the fleet, and took command of his old ship, the "Huascar,"
and of the small Peruvian fleet. On 21 May he attacked two small Chilean vessels
off Iquique with the "Huascar" and "Independencia," and sank one of them, but
the "Independencia" was disabled by the other.
As this loss left the Peruvian fleet still more inferior to
the Chilean than before, Grau received orders to avoid an engagement with the
Chilean iron-clads, and, owing to his superiority in speed, made a successful
cruise along the coast, seriously harassing the enemy. At daybreak of 23 July,
the "Huasear" and "Unidn" captured off Antofagasta the powerful Chilean
transport-steamer "Rimac," with a cavalry regiment of 300 on board. His
successful depredations on the coast caused the Chilean government to strain
every nerve for the capture of the "Huascar."
On 8 October, in thick, foggy weather, while the Peruvian
vessels were cruising near Antofagasta, Grau was surprised and forced to a
combat by the Chilean fleet. Ordering the "Unidn" to part company, and try by
her superior speed to escape, he resolved to fight his way through the enemy.
Half an hour after the beginning of the contest, a shell from the "Cochrane"
burst inside the "Huascar's" tower, killing the admiral and his signal-officer.
Shortly afterward the other division of the Chilean fleet came up, and, after an
hour and a half of fighting, the flag of the "Huascar" was lowered, 64 men out
of 193 being killed.
After the war, the Peruvian nation erected a monument to
Grau in Lima.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright ©
2001 VirtualologyTM
GRAU, Miguel (graouw), Peruvian naval officer, born in Piura in ,June, 1834; died at sea, 8 October, 1879. He shipped on board a merchant vessel at the age of ten years, and, after spending a short time at the naval school of Callao, became, in 1852, a midshipman in the Peruvian navy. He joined in the revolt of 1856 against the government of Castilla, and, on its suppression in 1858, returned to the merchant service. He re-entered the navy in 1860, was given command of the "Lersundi," and in 1865, when the war with Spain began, had reached the rank of captain. He took a distinguished part in the combat of Abtao in October, and on 2 May, 1866, participated in the defense of Callao against the Spanish bombardment, in command of the monitor "Manco Capac." He afterward took command of the turret-ship " Huascar." In 1875 he was a deputy to congress, and a supporter of the government of Manuel Pardo. He was appointed director of the naval academy, and when the war against Chili began, 5 April, 1879, held the rank of rear-admiral. He at once joined the fleet, and took command of his old ship, the "Huascar," and of the small Peruvian fleet. On 21 May he attacked two small Chilian vessels off Iquique with the "Huascar" and "Independencia," and sank one of them, but the "Independencia" was disabled by the other. As this loss left the Peruvian fleet still more inferior to the Chilian than before, Grau received orders to avoid an engagement with the Chilian iron-clads, and, owing to his superiority in speed, made a successful cruise along the coast, seriously harassing the enemy. At daybreak of 23 July, the "Huasear" and "Unidn" captured off Antofagasta the powerful Chilian transport-steamer "Rimac," with a cavalry regiment of 300 on board. His successful depredations on the coast caused the Chilian government to strain every nerve for the capture of the "Huascar." On 8 October, in thick, foggy weather, while the Peruvian vessels were cruising near Antofagasta, Grau was surprised and forced to a combat by the Chilian fleet. Ordering the "Unidn" to part company, and try by her superior speed to escape, he resolved to fight his way through the enemy. Half an hour after the beginning of the contest, a shell from the "Cochrane" burst inside the "Huascar's" tower, killing the admiral and his signal-officer. Shortly afterward the other division of the Chilian fleet came up, and, after an hour and a half of fighting, the flag of the "Huascar" was lowered, 64 men out of 193 being killed. After the war, the Peruvian nation erected a monument to Grau in Lima.
