Born in Spain, he early entered the Spanish army,[2] fighting in 1793–1795 in the Convention War,[citation needed] and in 1810 became general, receiving a command in Catalonia, where in that year he earned his title and the rank of field-marshal.

[2] While fighting against General Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, (1764–1830), he managed to enter the besieged Girona and move troops to Vic.

[citation needed] In 1811 he was appointed Captain General of Valencia and from 22 January 1812 to 7 March 1813 he was one of the members of the III Council of Regency, taking part as a sort of shady patron in the revolt in Catalonia led by Captain General Luis Roberto de Lacy (San Roque, executed by firing squad at the Castle of Bellver, Palma de Mallorca, in 1817), and who was also descended from Irish-Spanish military people, and had tried to set up a Republic.

[citation needed] He afterwards held posts of great responsibility under Ferdinand VII.

[citation needed] The events of 1823 compelled his flight into France to Limoges where he was interned.