José Toral surrendered the city of Santiago de Cuba to U.S. forces on July 17, 1898.
Toral was a Spanish Army general who became temporary commander of the Spanish IV Corps after Lieutenant General Arsenio Linares was wounded at the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1. He inherited a battered defense force facing American troops, naval pressure, disease, and deteriorating conditions inside the city.
Major General William Shafter repeatedly demanded Santiago’s surrender. Toral initially refused and tried to negotiate terms that would allow Spanish troops to withdraw with their weapons. American and naval forces shelled the city on July 10 and 11, while the loss of the water supply intensified pressure on civilians. Toral finally agreed to capitulation on July 17.
Arsenio Linares was the senior commander before Toral took over, while Ramón Blanco commanded Spanish forces throughout Cuba. Neither man personally surrendered Santiago. Toral was later court-martialed in Spain for the capitulation but acquitted in 1899.