Félix Jones (fl. 1751–1817) was an Irish[1] -Spanish military commander.
His son, Félix Jones Rooth, also a military commander, was teniente del rey[2] of Tarragona from 1835 to 1845.
In 1784, Jones was promoted to lieutenant colonel and colonel in 1791.[3] In 1794, he was given command of the Irlanda Regiment.[3] He was promoted to brigadier in 1795 and to field marshal in January 1808.[3]
See main article: Peninsular War.
In 1807, following the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau, allowing for the invasion of Portugal, Jones led one of Solano's divisions into Portugal,[4] where he took the town of Estremoz.[5]
He was promoted to field marshal in January 1808.[3] On 29 May, shortly before being murdered by a mob in Cádiz, Solano sent Jones to Seville giving him command of the troops there and with orders to raise a milicia.[5] [6]
Major general Jones was later given command of the 3rd Division, numbering some 5,415 men, including 709 horse, of Castaños's field army at Bailén.[7] [8]
In 1808, he was appointed military and political governor of El Puerto de Santa María and interim governor of Cádiz,[3] substituting Tomás de Morla, who had been sent to Madrid. As military governor of Cádiz, on 22 February 1809 Jones managed to quell a riot, saving the lives of, amongst others, the political prisoners at the Castle of Santa Catalina including General Carrafa[9] and José de Iturrigaray.[10] Later that year, Jones would be substituted by Francisco Javier Venegas.[10]
He was awarded the Grand Cross of Saint Hermenegildin 1817.[3]