John Sherlock
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John Sherlock was an Irish-born brigadier general in the Ultonia Regiment in Spain. He successfully defended Melilla during a 100-day siege by Moroccan troops.
John was son of Peter Sherlock, who had been made a baronet and knight by titular king, James III, in 1716. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, the Sherlock family lost its extensive land holdings in County Waterford. Many Catholic Irish immigrated to Spain with hopes of returning to Ireland once a Catholic was king of England again. Both Peter Sherlock and his father James Sherlock had also been members of the Ultonia Regiment.
John Sherlock fought in the Anglo-Spanish War of 1727–1729, a failed Spanish attempt to retake Gibraltar. He was made commander in chief of Melilla by Carlos III. From 9 December 1774 to 19 March 1775, John Sherlock defended Melilla against troops of the sultan of Morocco, Mohammed ben Abdallah. When a Spanish fleet arrived with reinforcements, Sherlock broke the siege and routed the Moroccans. The entrance to the Medina at Melilla, Morocco, includes a monument to "Juan Sherlocke." He was later made governor of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where he died on 25 July 1794, at the age of 89.
[edit] References
- Lorente, Gerardo Muñoz. "El Rosario del Mahoma," ISBN 8493282081-9788493282080
- Collins, Arian. "The Sherlocks of Ireland and Wales," 2008[1]
- Warden, David Bailie. "L'art de vérifier les dates," 1826
