Juan José Lerena y Barry

Juan José Lerena y Barry (1796—1863) was a Spanish naval captain who attempted to establish Spanish control over the Gulf of Guinea during the mid-nineteenth century.

Born in Cádiz, he served as commander of the brigantine Nervión and royal commissary for the island of Fernando Po.

He worked to establish Spanish control over other islands in the Gulf of Guinea, annexing Corisco after negotiating with Benga king Bonkoro I, and colonizing the foothold on the African continent that later became Spanish Guinea.

After a voyage filled with hardships, he returned to Spain and gave his report to his government.

The Spanish government subsequently prepared a second, larger expedition to the Gulf of Guinea.