[2] One of his relatives, Pedro Sáinz de Baranda y Gorriti, notably served as the first democratically-elected Mayor of Madrid during the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, defending the city valiantly.

The Treaty of Amiens (1802) provided a temporary truce, but hostilities resumed after the British attacked a Spanish squadron carrying precious metals to Cádiz two years later.

Between 1806 and 1808, Sáinz de Baranda continued in the service of the Spanish Navy, battling the English enemy while commanding a 44-gun gunboat, in addition to leading several convoys.

Motivated by these events, Sainz de Baranda reoffered his services and assumed the role of Second Commander on the warship Antenor, led by Captain General Benito Pérez Vadelomar.

Unfortunately, his health took a significant downturn, prompting Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, the Commander General of the Navy and later the Viceroy of New Spain, to grant him leave for recovery in Campeche.

Struggling with severe eye problems that impaired his naval service, Sáinz de Baranda formally requested retirement from the Spanish Navy.

[9] The Mexican War of Independence had persisted for eleven long years, and on September 27, 1821, the Army of the Three Guarantees under the command of Agustín de Iturbide triumphantly entered Mexico City.

After the fall of the Mexican Empire, the new Provisional Government of Mexico confirmed Sáinz de Baranda's appointment as Frigate Captain, which had been conferred upon him during the prior regime.

Led by Field Marshal José María Dávila García, the Spanish forces in the fortress resisted Mexican sovereignty, using the strategic location to their advantage.

The Mexican government, keen on solidifying its newly gained independence, recognized that capturing San Juan de Ulúa was crucial for asserting its authority and securing control over critical coastal areas.

Pedro Sáinz de Baranda, designated as the Commander of the Mexican Navy, assumed the role of constructing a naval force capable of spearheading the eventual conquest of the fortress.

Sainz de Baranda's leadership traits, profound maritime knowledge, and unwavering commitment to the Mexican cause rendered him the prime candidate for this formidable task.

After General Miguel Barragán's land-based assault faltered, Sainz de Baranda orchestrated a plan to sever the Spanish garrison's supply routes.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including logistical constraints and adverse weather conditions, Sainz de Baranda's determination remained unwavering.

[9] The turning point came in the autumn of 1825 when Spanish reinforcements, including the frigates Sabina and Casilda and the corvette Aretusa, attempted to break the blockade and relieve the garrison at San Juan de Ulúa.

[9] Pedro Sainz de Baranda's decisive actions and expert coordination of naval operations led to the fortress's surrender, solidifying Mexican control over this critical coastal stronghold.

This achievement marked a significant milestone in Mexico's post-independence era and established Sainz de Baranda's legacy as a national hero and naval pioneer.

To immortalize the significance of these milestones, Mexico instituted "Navy Day" on November 23, a commemoration solidified by a presidential decree signed by President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

His collaboration with American explorer John Lloyd Stephens bore fruit in their joint research on the enigmatic Mayan civilization of the Yucatán peninsula.

Their combined efforts were instrumental in the creation of a work that remains celebrated to this day: Incidents of Travel in Yucatán co-authored by Stephens and artist Frederick Catherwood.

[18] In March 1987, President Miguel de la Madrid instructed that his remains should be transferred, with the corresponding military honors, to the Rotunda of the Illustrious Persons in Mexico City.

Additionally, Sáinz de Baranda was the stepfather of General Francisco Cantón, a conservative politician and military figure who served as the governor of Yucatán from 1898 to 1902, modernizing the region's infrastructure and encouraging economic growth.

[26] The family's influence extended even further, as Sáinz de Baranda's great-grandson, José María Pino Suárez, emerged as a prominent figure during the Mexican Revolution.