Introduction

Blaz de Leso joined the Spanish Navy as a midshipman in 1701. By his mid-twenties, half of this bloke was just missing. He had to have his left leg amputated below the knee after being blown off by a cannon. His right arm was also torn to pieces while leading a landing party into Barcelona. But he refused to wear an eye patch and kept it on display for all to see. And portraits show him very clearly, left eye closed, completely eye patchless. De Leso went on to become one of Spain's most successful naval officers.