Ignacio María de Álava

In 1781, he commanded the corvette San Luis, which took part in the Spanish blockade of Gibraltar during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1790, commanding the San Francisco de Paula, he brought relief to the city of Oran, which was besieged by Algerian pirates.

While in the East Indies, he witnessed the British raid on Manila of 1798 and led the combined squadron at the inconclusive Macau Incident of 1799.

When Gravina joined the French Mediterranean fleet under Villeneuve for its voyage to the Caribbean, Álava remained as commander of the ships in Cadiz.

On 19 October, the combined French and Spanish fleet left Cadiz, with Álava on board of his flagship, the 112-gun Santa Ana.