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CapricornBiography
Antonio Barceló y Pont de la Terra (1 January 1717, in Palma, Majorca – 30 January 1797, in idem) (in Catalan Antoni Barceló i Pont de la Terra) was a Spanish mariner, lieutenant general (equivalent to Admiral) of the Spanish Royal Armada.
He began as privateer at the service of the Spanish Empire and thanks to his merits, he became lieutenant general of the Spanish Royal Armada and fought against Algerians pirates.
He is famous for his anti-Algerian privateer campaigns, bombardments of Algiers (Bombardment of Algiers in August 1783 and 2nd Bombardment of Algiers in July 1784) and use of gunboats during the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
Antonio is also credited of putting sailors and ships under the patronage of the Virgin of Carmel and shifting away from the patronage of St. Elmo. Today, on the feast day of the Viring of Carmel, blessing of boats still takes place in many Spanish towns.