An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 29 Spanish fleet was completed by 17th May, a date since known as 'the Day of the Argentine Navy'. When the Empire of Brazil invaded the future land of Uruguay and declared war on the United Provinces (Argentina), Brown was appointed to the rank of admiral of the fleet in the January of 1826 and set about recruiting, raising funds, and fitting out ships, in the face of this new threat. On the morning of 11th June of that same year the residents of Buenos Aires awoke to see the impressive, but worrying sight of 31 Brazilian warships coming over the horizon heading for the port. Brown had four battleships available to him, the 25 de Mayo, the Congreso, the República, and the Independencia. Brown's crews, comprised of 750 men, faced 266 cannons and 2,300 sailors and marines. Nevertheless, he went forward into the enemy line, dividing his force into two columns, and was then joined by Captain Leonardo Rosales. The patriots cut into the Brazilian fleet, dividing them into three sections, and once they were amongst them they opened up with broadsides from both sides while the Brazil- ians found themselves with their guns pointing the wrong way. Major factors in Brown's favour were that his ships were more manoeuvrable and they were aware of the location of the dangerous shallows. Following a ter- rible pounding, and afraid of going aground, the Brazilians went about and withdrew. Eventually peace was restored and the state of Uruguay was established as an independent nation in 1828. Brown was nominated as governor of the province of Buenos Aires. However, he did not seek a role in internal politics and subsequently resigned from his ap- pointment as director of the Bank of the Nation and from the navy. However, he returned to the navy in 1838 when a French fleet blockaded Bue- nos Aires, and once again organised the fleet during a confrontation involving Uruguay in 1842. During this encounter he defeated the enemy ships, which were led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, and during an engagement spared Garibaldi's life, stating: "Let him escape – that gringo is a brave man." William Brown is regarded as Argentina's greatest naval hero and one of the founding fathers of the nation. On the centenary of his death, in 1957, the Argentine nation/navy donated a bronze bust of Admiral Brown to the people of Foxford, and commemorations to mark his death are held on 3rd March annu- ally. In Argentina Admiral Brown is known as 'Liberator of the River Plate and the South Atlantic and Founder and 1st Admiral of the Argentine Navy'. The Admiral Brown Society operates a small museum in his honour and in recent times the Admiral William Brown Memorial Park was completed on a linear site on the banks of the famous salmon-rich River Moy that runs through the town. Some years ago a statue of Admiral Brown was erected on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin's revamped docklands. Admiral William 'Guillermo' Brown on Sir John Rogerson's Quay Statue of Admirante Brown in Argentina The 54th Naval Service Cadet Class pictured during the 158th anniversary commemoration of the death of Admiral William Brown. Statue of Admiral Brown in the recently completed memorial park, Green Road, Foxford, Co Mayo. Pictured are Cadet Class Training NCOs L/R: L/ Commop Paddy Gallagher, TTHA Ronan Malone, recipient of the Admiral William Brown / JJ O'Hara Perpetual Trophy awarded to the Best Junior Military Leader annually by Admiral Brown Society and Petty Officer Timmy Lahive. The Statue of Admiral William Brown in the recently completed Admiral William Brown Memorial Park, Green Road, Foxford, Co Mayo.

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