Statue of Historic Figure: Admiral Luis Brión - Willemstad, Curacao

Admiral Luis Brión

Willemstad, Curacao

N 12° 06.433 W 068° 56.149

Short Description: 

A monument honoring Curacao born Admiral Luis Brión, who fought for the freedom of the countries of Gran Colombia, is located in Brión Plaza in the Otrobanda District, Willemstad, Curacao.

Long Description:

A life size statue of the first admiral of Gran Colombia, Luis Brion, depicts the naval hero wearing a formal dress uniform including, a high collar, elaborately embroidered shirt with epaulets, a sash, knee high boots, and a cope draped over his right shoulder. He is standing and holding a telescope in his right hand, a sheathed sword hands from his right hip, and a jacket is draped over his left wrist.

The polished black granite base has two parts. A 3' high large granite square is placed two steps up on a circular brick plaza. An 8' tall square granite base supports the statue. This base is inscribed on each side.

LUIS BRION
PRIMER ALMIRANTE
DE LA GRAN COLOMBIA
Y GENERAL EN JEFE DE
SUS EJERCITOS
NACIO Y MURIO
LA ISLA DE CURAZAO
1782 - 1821

GRAN COLOMBIA LE DEBE A
BRION LA MITAD DE SU DICHA
SIMON BOLIVAR

LA JUNTA PRO ESTATUA
ALMIRANTE BRION
ERIGE ESTE MONUMENTO
POR SUSCRIPCION POPULAR
MDCCCCLV

ENVIARE SI PUEDO A LA
POSTERIDAD MAS REMOTA
LOS MONUMENTOS ETERNOS
DEL BIEN QUE BRION HIZO
A MI PATRIA
SIMON BOLIVAR

LUIS BRION
FIRST ADMIRAL
FROM GRAN COLOMBIA
AND GENERAL IN CHIEF OF
YOUR ARMY
BORN AND DIED IN
THE ISLAND OF CURACAO
1782 - 1821

GRAN COLOMBIA OWES
BRION HALF OF THEIR HAPPINESS
SIMON BOLIVAR

THE STATE COMMITTEE
ERECTED THIS MONUMENT
OF ADMIRAL BRION
BY POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION
MDCCCCLV

I WILL SEND, IF I CAN, TO THE
TO FUTURE POSTERITY
THE ETERNAL MONUMENTS
FOR THE GOOD THAT BRION DID
TO MY COUNTRY
SIMON BOLIVAR

Luis Brión was born on July 6, 1782 in Curaçao. He studied in the Netherlands and became an naval officer who fought in several battles against the British in Europe and in the Caribbean. He returned to Curaçao and participated in the revolutionary movement on the island. Shortly thereafter Curaçao was occupied by the British. He escaped to the United States and studied naval science and business. He returned to Curaçao 1803 after the British left and actively opposed British reoccupation. When the British reoccupied Curaçao in 1807,Brión went into exile on the Danish island of Saint Thomas.

In 1813 Brión fought for the independence of Gran Colombia. In 1814, Simón Bolívar made him captain of a frigate. In 1815 Brión acquired the 24-gun corvet Dardo in England. He had sailed from London for Cartagena but arrived too late as Cartagena had already surrendered to Spanish forces. He then sailed for Haiti, where Simom Bolívar was attempting to emancipating the slaves.

Bolívar when set his sights on the independence of Gran Colombia and along with now Captain Brión won a victory over Spanish warships, on May 2, 1816, in the Battle of Los Frailes. Brión was given the rank of admiral by Bolívar. The campaign against Spain was successful and the Gran Colombia achieved independence and divided into several countries including Venezuela and Colombia.

Brión returned to Curacao where he died of tuberculosis on September 27, 1821. He was re-interred in the National Pantheon of Venezuela on April 10, 1882.