Joseph O'Donnell (younger)

Joseph O'Donnell the younger
José O’Donnell Anethan around 1819
Born	28 August 1768 Guadalajara, Spain
Died	17 May 1836 Madrid
Allegiance	Kingdom of Spain
Service / branch	Infantry
Rank	Captain General
Battles / wars	Peninsular War La Romana's Escape Battle of Zújar Battle of Castalla
Awards	Order of San Fernando

Joseph O'Donnell or José O'Donnell (1768–1836) was an Irish-Spanish general who commanded troops from the Kingdom of Spain against Imperial France during the Peninsular War.

Biography

His father was Joseph O'Donnell the elder. Joseph was the brother of two other generals, the more famous Henry O'Donnell, 1st Count of la Bisbal and Charles O'Donnell.

In 1808, Joseph was an officer on the staff of Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of la Romana during the escape of the Northern Division from Denmark. He was beaten by Nicolas Godinot at Zújar in 1811. After the disastrous loss of Valencia in January 1812, he ably reorganized the fragments of the Spanish army. While Captain General of Murcia, he suffered a severe defeat at the hands of Jean Isidore Harispe at Castalla in July 1812. He was superseded in command soon afterward.

References

• Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.
• Oman, Charles (2010). A History of the Peninsular War Volume I. La Vergne, Tenn.: Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-1432636821.
• Oman, Charles (1996). A History of the Peninsular War Volume III. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole. ISBN 1-85367-223-8.
• Oman, Charles (1996). A History of the Peninsular War Volume IV. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole. ISBN 1-85367-224-6.
• Oman, Charles (1914). A History of the Peninsular War Volume V. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
• "Real y Militar Orden de San Fernando 200 Años: Familia de Héroes" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2014.