Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/81

Rh ALMAGRO, Diego (al-mah'-gro), soldier, b. about 1468; killed in July, 1588. He was one of the Spanish conquerors of Peru, who, in company with Francisco Pizarro, overthrew the magnificent empire of the Incas, which at the time was rent by civil war. His energy in forwarding supplies to Pizarro, who had penetrated to the interior of the country, was such that the latter was enabled to prosecute the campaign to a successful issue. In 1535 he stormed Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incas. He was extremely severe with his captives. Nevertheless, his habitual manners were so winning and courteous that he was very popular with his own soldiers. He had a quarrel with Pizarro about the rich spoil of the Incas' palaces, and Almagro was defeated, captured, and strangled to death.—His son, Diego, was born in 1520, and died in Peru in 1543. His mother was an Indian of Panama, but Charles V. had him legitimated in 1528, and placed iiim under the care and protection of an old officer named Juan Herrada. After his father's death young Almagro was imprisoned for some time, and as soon as liberated he resolved to avenge his father's execution. In company with Herrada and others, he attacked the house of Pizarro and killed him, 25 June, 1541. Then Almagro was pro- claimed governor of Peru, and went with troops to subdue some towns that would not recognize his authority; but Vaca de Castro routed him in the plain of Chupas and took many prisoners, among them Almagro, with all the principal promoters of the plot, who were court-martialed and executed.

ALMOGUERA, Fray Juan de (al-mo-gay'-ra), seventh archbishop of Lima, b. in Cordova, Spain, 18 Feb., 1605; d. in Lima, Peru, in 1676. He was the confessor of King Philip IV., who proposed him, on 17 Feb., 1659, for archbishop of Arequipa, Peru. The recommendation was adopted by the pope, and F'ray Juan de Almoguera was consecrated in February, 1661. He promoted many useful undertakings, and remained in Arequipa for some years, till he was translated to Lima, where he died. He is the author of "Instruceion de Sacerdotes" (1671), which the inquisition attempted to suppress.

ALMON, John, English journalist, b. in Liverpool, 17 Dec, 1737; d. in Boxmoor, 12 Dec, 1805. He became a printer and pamphleteer, and was engaged in 1761 as a writer for the "Gazetteer," and, after the production of " A Review of Mr. Pitt's Administration," he enjoyed the favor of the leaders of the opposition and established himself as a publisher. He was the confidant of John Wilkes, wrote or edited many political tracts, and in 1784 established in London a newspaper called the "General Advertiser," which proved unsuccessful. He was tried in 1770 for selling a reprint of a letter of "Junius," and in 1786 for a libel. Among his numerous publications was "The Remembrancer," a monthly collection of papers relating to American independence (London, 1775-'83), which is one of the chief sources of historical information regarding the revolution. His last published works were " Biographical, Literary, and Political Anecdotes" (1797), and the "Correspondence of the late John Wilkes," with memoirs of his life (1805).

ALMONTE, Juan Neponiuceno (al-mau'n-te), Mexican statesman, b. in Valadolid, Mexico, in 1804; d. in Paris, 20 March, 1869. He was the reputed son of the priest Morelos, the famous partisan chief, who was shot in 1813. His youth was spent in the United States, where he secured an excellent education, supporting himself the while. Returning to Mexico he entered upon a military career, and was chosen by Santa Anna one of his aides-de-camp, in which capacity he served in the Texan campaign against Gen. Houston, being made prisoner with his chief at the battle of San Jacinto (1830). On regaining his liberty he was made secretary of state by the Mexican president, Bustamente. In 1840 he showed great courage in quelling a revolt in the province of Urrea, but was deprived of office by a revolution that followed, and forced to support himself by lecturing. He was subsequently appointed minister at Washington; but when the annexation of Texas was resolved upon he demanded his passports, protesting at the same time against that measure. In 1845 he was a candidate for the presidency of the republic of Mexico, but failed; and afterward, on the elevation of Paredes to power, lie was appointed, first, minister of war, and then ambassador to Paris, He was on his way to France when he heard, at Havana, of the return of Santa Anna to power, upon which he immediately returned to Mexico, and, joining Santa Anna, took part in the war against the United States, distinguishing himself at the battles of Buena Vista. Cerro Gordo, and Churubusco. After the war he entered the ranks of the liberal opposition, and for the second time became a candidate for the presidency, but again without success. He was, however, appointed Mexican minister at Paris, which office he held at the period when President Miramon was overthrown by Juarez (1800). He returned to Mexico with the French expedition in 1802. Juarez protested against his presence in the French camp, and demanded that Almonte should be delivered up to him ; but the French commander refused, and shortly afterward a proclamation was issued by Gen. Taboada, declaring Juarez deposed, and Al- monte invested with supreme power in his place. He found himself, however, unable to organize a government ; and Gen. Forey, on his arrival in Mexico, annulled Taboada's decree, and announced to the Mexicans that they were free to choose a new government. After the decisive victory of the French arms. Almonte became one of the triumvirate to whom they intrusted the management of affairs in Mexico, assigning him the foreign department and the finances. He was appointed lieutenant of the empire by Maximilian in April, 1804, and some weeks later marshal of the empire. He adhered to the fortunes of his imperial patron throughout his short reign, and, when Maximilian was executed, he fled to Europe, spending his last days in exile.

ALMY, John Jay, naval officer, b. in Newport, R. I., 25 April, 1814; d. in Washington, D. C, 16 May, 1895. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1829, and rose to be commodore, 30 Dec, 1809, and rear-admiral 24 Aug., 1873. He was retired in July, 1870, after fifty-six years and eleven months of service. As midshipman and lieutenant he cruised all over the world in the old sailing navy, was at the surrender of Walker and his filibusters, commanded the "Fulton" in the expedition to Paraguay, was at the siege of Vera Cruz and the capture of Tuxpan during the Mexican war, and at the navy-yard, Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1861-62. As commander he had charge successively of the gunboats "South Carolina," "Connecticut," and "Juniata." While in command of the "Connecticut" he captured four noted blockade-runners with valuable cargoes, and ran ashore and destroyed four others. As captain he commanded the "Juniata" which was in the South Atlantic squadron, until 1867, and was then assigned to the Brooklyn navy-yard, then the signal corps, and after a cruise in the Pacific was retired, 24 April, 1877.