He was born in 1719 in
Mérida, Yucatán (now
Mexico). Son of a prominent
peninsular politician, he studied in Spain and had a military education, serving in several Spanish campaigns, such as in
Italy and
France. He held the post of Governor of
Buenos Aires, under the administration of the
Viceroyalty of Peru and Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, having as his main priority to expel the
Portuguese from the
Banda Oriental, present-day
Uruguay, without success. Nevertheless, his government was highly praised. He assumed the post of Viceroy in 1778, having had a wide set of accomplishments, developing a local economy, colonizing uninhabited lands (or inhabited by local natives), establishing local government (
Intendencias) all over the viceroyalty and prepared the way to the foundation of the
Real Audiencia de Buenos Aires. He enacted the royal rulings that helped to boost commerce, and open the customs. As an economic policy, he encouraged
artisans to form
guilds, following
European models. During his administration, he established the first city
census, which at the time showed about 37,000 inhabitants. He also created the first
theatre in the city:
La Ranchería. He open the "Casa Cuna" or "Hospital de expósitos", with the purpose of giving shelter to homeless children. This institution was founded by the Jesuits. He also created the "Protomedicato" to watch the practice of
medicine and prevent the practise of
curanderism. This institution was ruled by Miguel Gorman, and started the teaching of medicine in Buenos Aires. He played an important role in the repression of the uprising of
Túpac Amaru II in
Peru. In 1784 he asked to return to Spain, leaving the viceroyalty and giving it to his successor
Nicolás del Campo. He died in Spain in 1799. ==Bibliography==