Santa Ana was captured by the British. However, two days later, a squadron jointly under the command of Commodore Cosmao-Kerjulien and Spanish Commodore Enrique MacDonell succeeded in recapturing her and getting her back to Cadiz. After Gravina died of the wounds he had received in the battle, Álava became the commander of the remaining ships in Cadiz. In May 1808, Álava defected to Sevilla, where a junta had formed to oppose the French. After Cadiz had been recaptured by the Spanish, Álava once again became commander of the naval squadron based there. In 1810, Álava became Commander-in-Chief in the Caribbean, based in Havana. He returned to Cadiz in 1813, as its governor. In 1814 he became a member of the Supreme Council of the Spanish Admiralty, and on 24 February 1817 he became Admiral of the Spanish Fleet. He died after only three months in this position. References External links Kurzbiographie Vizeadmiral Ignacio Maria de Alava (in German) 1750 births 1817 deaths Captain generals of the Navy Spanish admirals Circumnavigators of the globe People from Vitoria-Gasteiz Spanish military personnel of the American Revolutionary War Spanish commanders of the Napoleonic Wars 18th-century Spanish military personnel 19th-century Spanish military personnel