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Bernardo Cólogan y Cólogan-Franchi
Bernardo Cólogan y Cólogan-Franchi | |
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| Occupation | Diplomat |
Bernardo Jacinto Cólogan y Cólogan-Franchi[1] (La Orotava, January 13, 1847 – Madrid, July 30, 1921) was a Spanish diplomat belonging to a prominent family of Irish origin that had settled in Tenerife.[2]
He entered the diplomatic service in the 1870s and held various positions within Spanish legations in Washington, Vienna, Lisbon, and Berlin, eventually serving as Spain's minister plenipotentiary to China and Japan at the beginning of the 20th century.[3]
Biographical Sketch
Bernardo Jacinto was born in the Puerto de Born in La Villa de La Orotava—now known as Puerto de la Cruz—on the island of Tenerife, he was the second child of Tomás Fidel Cólogan y Bobadilla de Eslaba and Laura Micaela Cólogan-Franchi y Heredia, Marchioness of La Candia. His paternal grandparents were Bernardo Cólogan y Fallon, Royal Mayor (*Alcalde Real*) of the port, and María del Rosario Bobadilla de Eslaba y Peri. His maternal grandparents were Juan Antonio de Cólogan y Franchi, 7th Marquess of El Sauzal and a member of the *Cortes* (parliament), and María Eustaquia de Heredia y Aspíroz, a niece of the Count of Alpuente.
He completed his early education in Puerto de la Cruz before moving to the *Seminario de Nobles* (Nobles' Seminary) in Vergara, in the province of Guipúzcoa. He later traveled to Paris, where he attained fluency in French. Subsequently, he continued his studies at the University of Oxford, where he decided to pursue a career in the diplomatic service.
Beginning of his diplomatic career
At the age of eighteen, he began his diplomatic career; on November 11, 1864, he was appointed as a *joven de lenguas* (a junior attaché or language trainee) at the Spanish legation in Athens. There, he served under the command of Ambassador Jorge Zammit y Romero. During this posting, he experienced a highly unfortunate incident that left a lasting mark on him for many years. Marshal Markos Antonios Rodóstamo (1813–1901), a chamberlain to King George I of Greece, circulated rumors within the Athenian court that tarnished his honor and reputation. Upon learning of this, Bernardo went to the court and, appearing before both the King and the Marshal, demanded an explanation. Rodóstamo offered only evasive responses, prompting an indignant Bernardo to slap him. The matter is that, that same night, a court of honor was convened; since no reliable evidence had been provided to substantiate the rumors, it was decided that the two men should engage in a pistol duel—from which both emerged unharmed. Naturally, he had to leave that post, though he continued to enjoy the support of the Spanish minister and other representatives who endorsed his position.
Following that unfortunate incident, he held the same position in Beijing in 1868, where he himself acknowledged having acquired a basic grasp of the Chinese language. From 1868 to 1871, he served as secretary at the legation in Constantinople and attended the inauguration of the Suez Canal.
Time in Caracas (Venezuela)
His arrival at his next posting, Caracas (1871–1875), coincided with a turbulent period in relations between Spain and its Caribbean colonies—most notably Cuba and Puerto Rico. In the case of Cuba, independence movements sought by every means possible to spread the spirit of rebellion against Spanish interests, and Venezuela was no exception.
During this period, a notable event occurred in April 1872 involving the armored frigate *Arapiles*. The vessel, which was commissioned in Havana, sustained damage while conducting anti-piracy surveillance along the Venezuelan coast and was forced to stop in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. The damage involved the wear of a support component for the propeller shaft—a defect that risked causing the propeller to detach and threatened to inflict severe damage on the stern tube. Once the anchor was dropped, and as ...the crew took the opportunity to enjoy a few days of well-deserved rest, when they observed—to their surprise—an American vessel named the *Virginius* entering the port. The ship was known among other captains as a regular supplier to the Cuban insurgents and was, therefore, considered to be collaborating with the enemy. This event was one of the first significant incidents he had to deal with, and it served as a prelude to the losses that Spain would endure at the end of the century.
First assignment in Mexico
From 1875 to 1881, he served as a first-class secretary at the legation in Mexico; from 1881 to 1883, he acted as *chargé d'affaires*; and from 1883 to 1894, he held the position of resident minister. In September 1876, in Veracruz, he married María del Carmen de Sevilla y Mora, the daughter of the Spanish consul in that city. They had two children: Bernardo—who also became a diplomat and a Knight of the Military Order of Our Lady of Montesa—and María del Carmen. Both children passed away without leaving any descendants.[4]
Second assignment in Beijing (China)
In 1894, he was sent to Beijing as Minister Plenipotentiary, a position he held during the Boxer Uprising in June 1900. Following the 55-day siege, he led the negotiations between the Western powers and China.[5] As the dean of the diplomatic corps, he presided over approximately one hundred meetings at the Spanish legation, which culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Xinchou—also known as the "Boxer Protocol"—a document he himself drafted and signed. After nearly a year of negotiations, on September 7, 1901, the foreign nations established a total indemnity of 450 million taels (67,500,000 dollars), with the primary beneficiaries being—in descending order—Russia, Germany, and France. The indemnity allocated to Spain—the smallest of all—amounted to 388,055 taels (±0.086% of the total).[6]
That same day began with the following account: "Minutes of the third conference with the Chinese plenipotentiaries, held on September 7, 1901."
The diplomatic corps—comprising the ministers from Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Russia, along with the plenipotentiaries from the United States—met at 11:00 a.m. at the Spanish legation. Presided over by Mr. de Cólogan, the Dean [of the diplomatic corps], they added their signatures to the final protocol of the negotiations. The representatives of the powers were accompanied by their first-class secretaries and the interpreters from their respective legations. The Chinese plenipotentiaries, Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang, were accompanied by Mr. Lien Fang, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. M. Tseng, secretary to Governor-General Li Hung-chang, both of whom served as interpreters. After the Chinese plenipotentiaries had affixed their signatures and seals to the twelve copies of the Protocol, the foreign ministers also signed the documents.
Once this was done, the Dean, standing, read the following address:
“Your Highness and Excellency: We have just signed a document of great importance, which restores friendly relations between foreign nations and the Chinese Empire. This act is the consequence of extraordinary events that we hope will never be repeated. It is the sincere wish of my distinguished colleagues, as well as my own, that, as time passes, these events may be consigned to the past—thanks to a respectful, good-faith adherence to the various clauses of this protocol. In this way, China will demonstrate its genuine intention to cultivate the best possible international relations, and in this way, too, the Protocol may bear the fruit of sound and cordial friendship in the future. This is the sincere desire of the governments and their representatives present here—who, throughout the long negotiations held with you as Chinese plenipotentiaries, have made every effort to demonstrate their good will by granting all possible concessions. We are pleased to have contributed to this outcome, and I have the honor to convey to Your Highness and Your Excellency our most sincere wishes for the prosperity, peace, and happiness of the Empire.”
Mr. Morrison translated Mr. de Cólogan’s speech, to which Prince Ching responded as follows, in Chinese, with Mr. Lien Fang acting as interpreter:
“Gentlemen, Ministers: It is my pleasure to thank you, on behalf of my colleague and myself, for the words spoken by your Dean on the occasion of the signing of this important document, which restores normal, friendly relations between the foreign powers and the Chinese government. This document has a vital role to play; it must erase the consequences of the horrific and unprecedented events of last year and uphold our friendly relations. We offer our formal guarantee that such acts will never occur again. We thank the representatives of the powers for the good will they have shown and for the concessions they have made throughout these long negotiations. We gratefully acknowledge the sincere wishes expressed by the sovereigns and heads of state of these powers. It is our hope that lasting peace and perpetual friendship may reign between our respective governments, and that Your Excellencies may enjoy happiness and good health in the future.”
Following these speeches, Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang withdrew. The meeting ended at 11:30.
His actions earned him the Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit (with white insignia) from the Spanish government, which he received from the Minister of War, Valeriano Weyler, pursuant to a Royal Decree dated January 21, 1902.[7]
Bernardo Cólogan was also decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia), the Order of Saint Anna (first class, Russia), the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal), the Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden), the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold (Belgium), the rank of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France), the Order of the Medjidie (first class, Turkey), and the Order of the Liberator (second class, Venezuela).[8]
Time in Tangier (Morocco)
From 1902 to 1905, he served as a first-class minister plenipotentiary in Tangier. He was Spain’s representative in Washington, D.C. from 1905 to 1907, maintaining contact with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
Second Period in Mexico
He was appointed ambassador to Mexico, a position he held from February 1907 to 1914. He began his tenure during the Porfiriato. He was present during the triumph of the Maderista Revolution and the resignation of Porfirio Díaz. During the Decena Trágica (Ten Tragic Days), he was prompted by his American counterpart, Henry Lane Wilson, who pressured the diplomatic corps to demand the resignation of the constitutional president, Francisco I. Madero. Although not entirely convinced, Cólogan yielded to the pressure exerted by Lane Wilson.[9] On February 15, together with his counterparts—Paul von Hintze of Germany, Francis W. Stronge of England, and, of course, Lane Wilson of the United States—he suggested that President Madero resign from his post:[10]
Mr. Mr. President, Ambassador [Lane Wilson] summoned the ministers of Germany and England, along with myself, early this morning; he explained the immense gravity of the situation—both domestically and internationally—and asserted that you have no other option but to resign...
— February 15, 1913.
President Madero replied to the delegation that "foreign ministers have no right to interfere in politics; I know what I must do, and, in any case, I shall die at my post." Cólogan did not return to the National Palace for the remainder of the *Decena Trágica* (the Ten Tragic Days). Some time later, when his Cuban counterpart, Manuel Márquez Sterling, learned of these events reproached him for his conduct.[11] On February 18, when Madero was arrested by Victoriano Huerta and the coup plotters, Cólogan hastened to visit the President to offer him comfort. On the 19th, he received strict orders from Spain not to recognize the coup-installed government;[12] however, months later, Alfonso XIII agreed to establish relations with Huerta’s government.
Due to the relationship he had maintained with Victoriano Huerta, Cólogan was forced to leave the country following the victory of the Constitutionalist Revolution. Spanish diplomatic authorities considered recalling him to avoid complications with the new Mexican government.[13]
Time in Argentina
He was transferred to the legation in Buenos Aires, serving as Spain’s representative (ambassador) from 1914 until his retirement. He had a successful diplomatic tenure in the country, eventually concluding his career back in Spain.
He died in Madrid on July 30, 1921.
Bibliography
- Cólogan Soriano, Carlos (2015). Bernardo Cólogan y los 55 días en Pekín. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * Cólogan y González-Massieu, Jorge (2008). "The Role of Spain in the Boxer Rebellion of 1900: A Forgotten Chapter in the History of Diplomatic Relations". Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia. Volume CCV, issue III. Madrid. pp. 493–536.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - The Other Side of the Mirror: Mexico in the Memoirs of U.S. Heads of Mission (1822–2003). Mexican Committee of Historical Sciences of El Colegio de México. 2007. ISBN 978-970-95-0400-2.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|first_name=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|surnames=ignored (help) - Mexico and Spain from the Porfiriato to the Revolution. Mexico: Secretariat of the Interior. 1992. ISBN 978-968-805-716-2.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|access_date=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|first_name=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|surnames=ignored (help) - Season of the Vultures. Planeta. 2009. ISBN 978-607-07-0116-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|author_link=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|first_name=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|surnames=ignored (help) - Francisco I. Madero. Biography. Mexico: Porrúa. 1998. ISBN 968-452-047-6.
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References
- ↑ «Bernardo Jacinto de Cólogan y Cólogan» in the Diccionario biográfico español (Spanish Biographical Dictionary) of the Real Academia de la Historia (Royal Academy of History).
- ↑ "Irish Families in the Canary Islands" (PDF) (in español). Government of the Canary Islands. 1986.
- ↑ Jiménez (2003). History of Contemporary Spanish Diplomacy (1800–1931). Ministry of Foreign Affairs. p. 214.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|forename=ignored (|given=suggested) (help) - ↑ Zárate y Cólogan, Melchor. "Don Bernardo de Cólogan y Cólogan". valletoro.com. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ↑ Carlos Cólogan Soriano (July 3, 2016): "The Chronicler of the Boxer Rebellion". Accessed August 19, 2020.
- ↑ Ortells-Nicolau, Xavier. "Itinerary: Bernardo J. de Cólogan". China-Spain Archive, 1850-1950. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ↑ General Directorate of Contributions – List of individuals awarded various decorations, with status confirmed or expired (PDF). Madrid. 22/01/1903. pp. 287–288.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|publication=ignored (help) - ↑ Cólogan, 2008; pp. 531-532.
- ↑ Flores Torres, 2007; pp. 219-221.
- ↑ Taracena, 1998; p. 155.
- ↑ Flores Torres, 2003; pp. 221-225.
- ↑ Taibo, 2009; p. 121.
- ↑ MacGregor, 1992; pp. 76-77.
External links
- Bernardo Cólogan: Ambassador of the 55 Days in Beijing
- "Bernardo Cólogan y Cólogan". Retrieved June 14, 2012.
