José Patiño y Rosales

Oil on canvas, reproduction painted in 1828 by Rafael Tegeo (1798–1856) from the original by Jean Ranc (1674–1735.) José Patiño y Rosales appears wearing a dress coat and high-collared shirt, and the golden fleece and scallop shell of the Order of Santiago.

From the time of his first post in Philip V's government, José Patiño y Rosales (1666–1736) was known for his extensive reforms to the army and navy. Among other positions, he was appointed General Intendant of the Navy in 1717, Secretary of the Navy and Indies in 1726, and shortly afterwards, Secretary of the Treasury ("Hacienda"), the General Superintendence of Revenues, and its council and courts. He established a number of organizations that were fundamental to the consolidation of the Spanish Navy, including the Royal Company of Midshipmen (now the Spanish Naval Academy), the War Officers' Corps (now the General Corps of the Navy), the Ministry Corps (now the Naval Logistics Corps) as well as the Marine Battalions and the Artillery Brigades.