José Marina Vega
José Marina Vega was a Spanish military officer and politician. Leader of the military operations in Melilla during the 1909 Melilla Campaign, he later served as High Commissioner of Spain in Morocco and as Minister of War.Biography
Born on 13 April 1850 in Figueres, province of Girona, he is sometimes reported to be born in 1848, as his father declared him to be 2 years older in his application to the military. He moved as child to Luzon. Returned to Peninsular Spain, he joined the Battalion of Hunters Llerena as cadet in 1863.
He fought in the Third Carlist War. With a military career in infantry, and promoted to colonel in 1893, Marina was destined to places such as Philippines and Cuba. He was promoted to the rank of brigader general in 1896. He was promoted to Divisional general in July 1900. Following a brief spell as civil governor in Barcelona, he was destined to Melilla in 1905.
At the helm of the military in the North African city, Marina Vega commanded the operations in the Melilla hinterland in retaliation to the attacks of Riffian tribesmen during the so-called Melilla War, including the in July 1909, that, taking place simultaneously with the Tragic Week riots in Barcelona, prompted a dismay in the Spanish public opinion. He was promoted then to Lieutenant general.
Appointed as High Commissioner of Spain in Morocco in replacement of Felipe Alfau Mendoza, he served from 1913 to 1915.
He served two times as Minister of War in cabinets presided by Eduardo Dato and Antonio Maura. Appointed as senator for life in 1919, he died on 30 January 1926 in Madrid.
