Jose Palafox Y Melzi, a Spanish patriot, born in Aragon in 1780, died in Paris, Feb. 16, 1847. At an early age he became an officer of the royal body guard, and as such accompanied Ferdinand VII. to Bayonne in 1808. Ferdinand was retained a prisoner, but Palaf ox escaped to his estate near Saragossa. Shortly after that city was menaced by the French army under Lefebvre-Desnouettes, and the populace proclaimed Palaf ox captain general of Aragon (May 25). Soldiers from the adjacent country were called into the city, barricades were erected in every street, and nearly every house was made a point of defence. After a siege of 61 days the French retired; but they returned in greater force successively under Moncey, Mortier, Junot, and Lannes, and the city capitulated in February, 1809. Palaf ox, being ill, was not in active command at the time. The capitulation provided that he should depart free, and that no one should be molested; but the city was pillaged, blood was profusely shed, and Pala-fox was sent a prisoner to Vincennes. lie was only released on the restoration of Ferdinand VII. in 1814, when he returned to Madrid with the king, and was confirmed in his post of captain general of Aragon. In 1820 he retired from office and pronounced in favor of the constitution, and in 1823 signed a protest against the absolutism of Ferdinand VII. In 1833 he joined the party of Queen Isabella, was imprisoned for a time on a false charge, and in 1836 was made duke of Saragossa.