Juan Esteban de Ubilla

Solder and sailor Juan Esteban de Ubilla went down in history for being the leading figure in one of the greatest disasters in the West Indies Trade Route, due to the sinking in 1715 of the Tierra Firme and the Nueva España fleets, which were sailing together as one. A total of 11 ships were wrecked and 12 million pesos were lost, together with more than 1,000 lives, without counting all the human losses suffered afterwards as survivors faced hunger, the burning sun and attacks by local tribes.

The remains, scattered along the coast, must have been protected from plunder and pirate attacks. At the time, more than half of the wealth was recovered and was finally sent to Spain.

Read the full story in “10 notable shipwrecks”

Ships with references to Juan Esteban de Ubilla

  1. Nuestra Señora de las Nieves y de las Ánimas (1715)

    Patache which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Cadiz (ESP). She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  2. El Ciervo (1715)

    Ship of unknown type which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  3. Nuestra Señora de la Regla, San Dimas y San Francisco Javier (1715)

    Galleon which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  4. Santo Cristo de San Román, Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San José (1715)

    Galleon which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She carried riches. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  5. Santisima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora de la Concepción aka Urca de Lima, aka Urca de Lima (1715)

    Urca which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. Captained by Miguel de Lima. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  6. Nuestra Señora de Regla, San Francisco Javier y las Ánimas (1715)

    Merchant ship which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  7. Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Francisco Javier, aka Chaves (1715)

    Galleon which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.

  8. Santo Cristo del Valle (1715)

    Patache which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Florida in 1715 due to a hurricane. She belonged to The Nueva España Fleet.