Alejandro O’Reilly Alejandro O’Reilly, an Irish-born Spanish military officer, played a significant role in the design and construction of the historic fortress known as El Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fortress, also known as Castillo San Felipe del Morro, was built in the 16th century to protect the city of San Juan from attacks by sea. In 1765, the Spanish government sent O’Reilly to Puerto Rico as governor to oversee the island’s military defenses. Upon his arrival, O’Reilly quickly realized that the existing defenses were inadequate and…
Read MoreAlejandro O’Reilly and the Construction of el Morro
