Florencio Xatruch

Florencio Xatruch (October 21, 1811 – February 15, 1893), was a general who led the Honduran expeditionary force against William Walker in Nicaragua in 1856.

Life

Florencio Xatruch was born in San Antonio de Oriente, Honduras. His father, Ramón Xatruch, was of Catalan background, and his mother, Eugenia Villagra, was part of Choluteca's upper class, and whose family owned mines.

In 1824, Xatruch was sent to León, Nicaragua to continue with his studies.

Military career

In 1826, as he returned to Honduras, he joined the armed forces of Domingo Sarmiento and Santos Sánchez, who were against the government of Diego Vigil. He then participated in Francisco Morazán's armed forces, on March 14, 1832, along with his friend José Santos Guardiola, in the war in Jocoro, El Salvador. He was promoted to sergeant, and this promotion was signed by Morazan himself. In 1841 he was again promoted to captain by General Julian Tercero, and he served under the leadership of Francisco Ferrera.