Casto Secundino María Méndez Núñez was a Spanish Navy officer. He served in the First Italian War of Independence in Italy in 1849, the Spanish-Moro Conflict in the Philippines in 1861, and the Dominican Restoration War in the Caribbean in 1863-1864. Rising to the rank of contralmirante he achieved international renown for his command of the Spanish Navy's Pacific Squadron during the Chincha Islands War in 1865-1866, becoming one of the major Spanish naval figures of the nineteenth century. In Spain, he is a popular hero, viewed as an exemplification of good character and Spanish patriotism.
[Translation.] Admiral Nunez to Mr. Nelson. Pacific Squadron, Frigate Villa de Madrid, Valparaiso, December, 1865. The undersigned, acting commander-in-chief of the naval forces of her Catholic Majesty in the Pacific,…
[Untitled] The commander-in-chief of the Spanish squadron in the Pacific— Considering, That the vessels of war, both Peruvian and Chilian, provide themselves with coal from the mines of Chili for…
[Translation.] Reply of Don Casto Mendez Nunez to the protest of the consular corps of Valparaiso. Headquarters of the Squadron of H. C. M. in the Pacific, Frigate Numancia, Valparaiso,…
[Translation.] Admiral Mendez to Mr. Kilpatrick. Frigate Numancia, Bay of Valparaiso, March 15, 1866. Most Excellent Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that her Majesty the Queen,…
[Translation.] Admiral Mendez to Mr. Kilpatrick. Frigate Numancia, Valparaiso, March 27, 1866. The undersigned, commander-in-chief of her Catholic Majesty’s squadron in the Pacific and her minister plenipotentiary, has the honor…
Manifesto to the diplomatic corps resident in Santiago. [Translation.] The memorandum addressed by his late excellency General Pareja to the government of the Spanish American republics on the 24th of…