page_title: Enrique MacDonell
section_title: Retirement and return
hierarchical_section_title: Enrique MacDonell / Retirement and return
caption_attribution_description: English: Rayo Ship 1749
context_page_description: Enrique MacDonell, also spelled MacDonnell, was an Irish-Spanish admiral noted for his participation in several sea battles including the Battle of Trafalgar.
  He was born in Pontevedra, Spain, into a prominent Irish-Spanish family, though his naval records state his origin as Irish. His father was a Spanish Army brigadier-general and colonel of the Irish Regiment of Irlanda, and his mother a lady-in-waiting to the royal household.
context_section_description: In 1800, MacDonnell was in Spain and the following year, he retired from the navy with the honorary use of his uniform and rank.
  He wrote the Coordinated offensive plan of land and sea against the United States of America in 1804. In was submitted to Minister Dom Grandallana, returned apparently unread or uncommented upon. The plan submitted to the Spanish Admiralty for a full-scale war and invasion of the United States, involving naval and ground battles. Spain was becoming increasingly concerned at the growth of American power. The Third Coalition and the 1808 French destruction of the Spanish naval fleet saw this plan withdrawn.
  In 1805 MacDonnell came out of retirement and rejoined the navy and fought at the Battle of Trafalgar commanding the 100-gun Rayo. After the battle he led a daring rescue mission of to recapture Spanish and France ships taken during the battle. This rescue freed four ships and 3,000 prisoners including Vice-Admiral Álava. This sortie also captured 150 English sailors and that enabled the Spanish and French to negotiate a prisoner swap days later. He was promoted to rear-admiral the following fortnight on 8 November.
caption: A Cuban stamp with a depiction of the 100-gun Rayo
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