José Antonio de Gaztañeta

Don José Antonio de Gaztañeta e Iturribalzaga (alternatively José Antonio de Castaneta; 1656 – 1728) was a Spanish Basque ship-builder and sailor. He was an innovator who applied a scientific approach to ship design. He was at the origin of the revival of the Spanish Navy in the eighteenth century.

During the War of the Quadruple Alliance, he was the Vice-Admiral who commanded the Spanish Mediterranean fleet at the Battle of Cape Passaro against Great Britain on 11 August 1718 off the coast of Sicily, where Gaztañeta's fleet was decisively defeated. This led to his most important contribution in the field of ship building, the renovation and re-organisation of the Spanish Navy following its poor performance in the war.