Lopez Expedition

Lopez Expedition
Map of Cuba from the nineteenth century.
Date May 1850 – August 1851 Location Captaincy General of Cuba Result Spanish Cuba victory Filibuster leaders executed
Belligerents
Filibusters	Captaincy General of Cuba
Commanders and leaders
Narciso López  William Logan Crittenden  Joaquín de Agüero	José Gutiérrez de la Concha

The Lopez Expedition of 1851 was an attempt by the Venezualan, Narciso López, who lived in Cuba, to invade the island to overthrow what he believed was then unstable Spanish rule. López wanted to have Cuba annexed into the United States as another slave state. He and American Southern volunteers departed from New Orleans. The expedition was one of several that took place around that time by private operators known as filibusterers. They had widespread support from the American public eager to see the USA expand its influence southwards into the Caribbean.

In August 1851, after two failed expeditions, a force comprising 420 Cuban emigres and American volunteers landed in western Cuba, where the invaders were defeated and captured by the Spanish forces. López and many of the other prisoners were executed. It was part of a string of filibustering raids launched from American territory during the era, in violation of the Neutrality Act.