In the Battle of Lake Maracaibo on July 24, 1823, José Prudencio Padilla led the 22-vessel fleet of Simón Bolívar’s Republic of Gran Colombia to victory over Ángel Laborde y Navarro’s superior Spanish squadron, which numbered 32 ships crewed by 1,650 highly trained mariners. Against unequal odds, Padilla’s remarkable daring and tactical resource won the day, finally guaranteeing Venezuela’s independence.
Lake Maracaibo is a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea, with a narrow strait separating its sluggish waters from the sea. Here, at the start of July 1823, the Republican and Spanish fleets fought a few skirmishes before the former withdrew into the port of Moporo for repairs and resupply. There a friend of Padilla’s, a veteran of Jean Lafitte’s pirate crew and of the Battle of New Orleans, warned him of the impending arrival of Laborde’s fleet. On the afternoon of July 23, Padilla received Laborde’s formal challenge in the form of a condescending note: the Spanish fleet was lined up in battle formation close to Maracaibo’s western shore, its aristocratic commander eager to best the Republican admiral, a commoner of mixed Creole and African ancestry.
Spain’s hold on Venezuela had been uncertain since its dismal defeat at the Battle of Carabobo two years before, but its continuing colonial presence had been assured by naval power. So it seemed set to continue, with Padilla, apparently eager to avoid a confrontation, steering for the safety of the mouth of the lake, in the east.
The following dawn he briefed his captains, among whom were numerous British and Irish volunteers in the war of independence, but even then he did not give the order to weigh anchor until almost noon. His fleet then sailed with startling swiftness into the attack. The well-armed Royalists opened up with their cannon first; the Republicans held their fire until, at point-blank range, they sent off a salvo to truly devastating effect. Closing fast, they quickly captured those vessels that had not been sunk in the opening bombardment. Only three Spanish ships escaped, one of them bearing Laborde to safety.
Lacking the ability to resupply with the destruction of Laborde’s fleet, Spain’s army in Venezuela soon surrendered to Bolivar’s forces. Among other results, the Bolivarian victory at Lake Maracaibo led to the rebel government’s being formally recognized by the United States and Great Britain. Even after his calamitous loss, however, Laborde continued to enjoy a successful career in the Spanish navy, rising to the rank of minister. Padilla was less fortunate: after Bolívar declared himself dictator, he ordered Padilla arrested for allegedly plotting rebellion. Padilla was executed by firing squad on October 2, 1828. His reputation has since been rehabilitated, and in 2000 his remains were transferred to the National Pantheon in Caracas.
Losses: Spanish: 473 killed and wounded, 437 captured; Republican: 163 killed and wounded.