Hero of Vigo and Sampaio

He was a native of Peñíscola and came from a military family. In 1788, Francisco joined the military and began his ascent until he reached the rank of lieutenant in 1794. He was promoted to the rank of Captain of the Grenadiers in the Navarra army.
Colombo was then transferred to Galicia, where he participated in the defence of Ferrol against the English, after which he enlisted into the Galician army that invaded Portugal in the Orange War.
Married to a Vigo girl, he was well versed with Galician geography, which was why the Marquis of La Romana commissioned him to alarm the locals and prepare a partisan army that fought the French in 1809. He participated in the Reconquest of Vigo and was named Governor of this town. His appointment lasted just three days after which he was replaced by Cachamuíña.
Francisco participated in the battle for the Ponte Sampaio commanding the victorious regiment and later became integrated into the Lobera battalion. He continued to outshine in the Independence War in actions like the one at Badajoz, Medina del Campo and Alba de Tormes, and continued to be part of the Lobera regiment up to 1811, after which he passed on to the Mallorca and the "Fernando VII" regiments.
Francisco retired in Vigo, where his family lived, and died on 25th January, 1825. His widow received a pension of 6,600 reales de vellón from Montepío, which was not paid to her for a long time despite presenting multiple claims. This was how the State normally rewarded those who gave their lives to defend it.