PUBLIC LAW 113–229—DEC. 16, 2014 128 STAT. 2117 

Public Law 113–229 

113th Congress 

Joint Resolution 

Conferring honorary citizenship of the United States on Bernardo de Ga ́lvez y 

Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Ga ́lvez. 

Whereas the United States has conferred honorary citizenship on 

7 other occasions during its history, and honorary citizenship 

is and should remain an extraordinary honor not lightly conferred 

nor frequently granted; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and 

Count of Ga ́lvez, was a hero of the Revolutionary War who 

risked his life for the freedom of the United States people and 

provided supplies, intelligence, and strong military support to 

the war effort; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez recruited an army of 7,500 men made 

up of Spanish, French, African-American, Mexican, Cuban, and 

Anglo-American forces and led the effort of Spain to aid the 

United States’ colonists against Great Britain; 

Whereas during the Revolutionary War, Bernardo de Ga ́lvez and 

his troops seized the Port of New Orleans and successfully 

defeated the British at battles in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 

Natchez, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez led the successful 2-month Siege 

of Pensacola, Florida, where his troops captured the capital of 

British West Florida and left the British with no naval bases 

in the Gulf of Mexico; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez was wounded during the Siege of 

Pensacola, demonstrating bravery that forever endeared him to 

the United States soldiers; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez’s victories against the British were 

recognized by George Washington as a deciding factor in the 

outcome of the Revolutionary War; 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez helped draft the terms of treaty that 

ended the Revolutionary War; 

Whereas the United States Continental Congress declared, on 

October 31, 1778, their gratitude and favorable sentiments to 

Bernardo de Ga ́lvez for his conduct towards the United States; 

Whereas after the war, Bernardo de Ga ́lvez served as viceroy of 

New Spain and led the effort to chart the Gulf of Mexico, including 

Galveston Bay, the largest bay on the Texas coast; 

Whereas several geographic locations, including Galveston Bay, Galveston, Texas, Galveston County, Texas, Galvez, Louisiana, and 

Dec. 16, 2014 

[H.J. Res. 105] 


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128 STAT. 2118 PUBLIC LAW 113–229—DEC. 16, 2014 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 105: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 113–548 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014): 

July 28, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 4, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, are named after Bernardo de 

Ga ́lvez; 

Whereas the State of Florida has honored Bernardo de Ga ́lvez 

with the designation of Great Floridian; and 

Whereas Bernardo de Ga ́lvez played an integral role in the Revolutionary War and helped secure the independence of the United 

States: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, That Bernardo 

de Ga ́lvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Ga ́lvez, 

is proclaimed posthumously to be an honorary citizen of the United 

States. 

Approved December 16, 2014. 


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