IIA 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 38 

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

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

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 4, 2014 

Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. NELSON) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

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, 


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•SJ 38 IS 

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 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, are named 

after Bernardo de Ga ́lvez; 


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•SJ 38 IS 

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 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That Bernardo de Ga ́lvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston 

4 and Count of Ga ́lvez, is proclaimed posthumously to be 

5 an honorary citizen of the United States. 

Æ 


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