FIRST - Admiral of Gran Colombia - Willemstad, Curacao
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 12° 06.433 W 068° 56.149
19P E 506984 N 1338410
A monument honoring Curacao born Admiral Luis Brión, who was the first admiral of Gran Colombia, and later to become the first admiral of Venezuela and Colombia, is located in Brión Plaza in the Otrobanda District, Willemstad, Curacao.
Waymark Code: WMXTJ4
Location: Curaçao
Date Posted: 02/25/2018
Views: 8
A life size statue of the first admiral of Gran Colombia, Luis Brion, depicts the naval hero wearing a formal dress uniform including, a high collar, elaborately embroidered shirt with epaulets, a sash, knee high boots, and a cope draped over his right shoulder. He is standing and holding a telescope in his right hand, a sheathed sword hands from his right hip, and a jacket is draped over his left wrist.
The polished black granite base has two parts. A 3' high large granite square is placed two steps up on a circular brick plaza. An 8' tall square granite base supports the statue. This base is inscribed on each side.
LUIS BRION
PRIMER ALMIRANTE
DE LA GRAN COLOMBIA
Y GENERAL EN JEFE DE
SUS EJERCITOS
NACIO Y MURIO
LA ISLA DE CURAZAO
1782 - 1821
GRAN COLOMBIA LE DEBE A
BRION LA MITAD DE SU DICHA
SIMON BOLIVAR
LA JUNTA PRO ESTATUA
ALMIRANTE BRION
ERIGE ESTE MONUMENTO
POR SUSCRIPCION POPULAR
MDCCCCLV
ENVIARE SI PUEDO A LA
POSTERIDAD MAS REMOTA
LOS MONUMENTOS ETERNOS
DEL BIEN QUE BRION HIZO
A MI PATRIA
SIMON BOLIVAR
LUIS BRION
FIRST ADMIRAL
FROM GRAN COLOMBIA
AND GENERAL IN CHIEF OF
YOUR ARMY
BORN AND DIED IN
THE ISLAND OF CURACAO
1782 - 1821
GRAN COLOMBIA OWES
BRION HALF OF THEIR HAPPINESS
SIMON BOLIVAR
THE STATE COMMITTEE
ERECTED THIS MONUMENT
OF ADMIRAL BRION
BY POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION
MDCCCCLV
I WILL SEND, IF I CAN, TO THE
TO FUTURE POSTERITY
THE ETERNAL MONUMENTS
FOR THE GOOD THAT BRION DID
TO MY COUNTRY
SIMON BOLIVAR
Luis Brión was born on July 6, 1782 in Curaçao. He studied in the Netherlands and became an naval officer who fought in several battles against the British in Europe and in the Caribbean. He returned to Curaçao and participated in the revolutionary movement on the island. Shortly thereafter Curaçao was occupied by the British. He escaped to the United States and studied naval science and business. He returned to Curaçao 1803 after the British left and actively opposed British reoccupation. When the British reoccupied Curaçao in 1807,Brión went into exile on the Danish island of Saint Thomas.
In 1813 Brión fought for the independence of Gran Colombia. In 1814, Simón Bolívar made him captain of a frigate. In 1815 Brión acquired the 24-gun corvet Dardo in England. He had sailed from London for Cartagena but arrived too late as Cartagena had already surrendered to Spanish forces. He then sailed for Haiti, where Simom Bolívar was attempting to emancipating the slaves.
Bolívar when set his sights on the independence of Gran Colombia and along with now Captain Brión won a victory over Spanish warships, on May 2, 1816, in the Battle of Los Frailes. That day Brión was promoted to the rank of admiral by Bolívar. The campaign against Spain was successful and the Gran Colombia achieved independence and divided into several countries including Venezuela and Colombia.
Brión returned to Curacao where he died of tuberculosis on September 27, 1821. He was re-interred in the National Pantheon of Venezuela on April 10, 1882.
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.