Early Years
Francisco was born on December 4th, 1892, in El Ferrol, Spain. Growing up in this small, coastal town, Franco attended a private school administered by a private priest until the age of 12. With the generational goal of pursuing a sea-based military career, he then attended a naval secondary school. Unfortunately, in 1907, the admission of cadets into the Naval Academy was temporarily suspended by the Spanish government. Franco then enrolled at the Infantry Academy in Toledo, maintaining below average grades throughout the three years leading up to his graduation.