DELEGATES from the Peruvian Navy marked their 200th anniversary during a visit to Britannia Royal Naval College – and laid a wreath commemorating one of the heroes of their war of independence in 1820.

The delegation from the Embassy of the Republic of Peru was led by Rear Admiral Daniel Valencia, Defence and Naval Attaché.

He laid a wreath at the portrait of Vice Admiral Martin Guise, a Royal Navy officer who served alongside Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Upon leaving the Royal Navy, Admiral Guise travelled to South America to serve with Admiral Thomas Cochrane. Admiral Guise was instrumental in the attack on the Spanish Flagship Esmeralda in 1820, which guaranteed the independence of Peru. He also helped to form the Peruvian Navy, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

The portrait of Admiral Guise is a specially commissioned copy of the original painting that hangs in Peru. It was presented to BRNC during the visit of the Peruvian Navy’s tall-ship, Bap Union, to Dartmouth in 2017.

BRNC’s Captain Roger Readwin said: “It was a pleasure for us to welcome the Peruvian delegation to BRNC and join with them to mark the anniversary of their Navy.

“We also took the opportunity to brief our guests on the role that BRNC plays in preparing today’s Naval leaders to follow in the footsteps of Admiral Guise and other famous predecessors.”