Miguel Antonio de Merlos

Miguel Antonio de Merlos (1669-c.1744) was a Spanish military man and politician,[1] who served during the colonial period of Buenos Aires.[2] He held various positions, including Sargento Mayor of the Compañía of Guardias Españolas and Governor of the province of Porco.[3]

Don
Miguel Antonio de Merlos y Jiménez de los Ríos
Governor of Porco
In office
1708–1709
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Mayordomo of Buenos Aires
In office
1705–1706
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Mayordomo of Buenos Aires
In office
1740–1741
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Escribano of the Real Asiento de Inglaterra
In office
1716–1718
Preceded by?
Succeeded by?
Personal details
Born
Miguel Antonio de Merlos y Jiménes

1669
Murcia, Spain
Diedc. 1744
Buenos Aires, Argentina
SpouseRosa Martinez de Figueroa
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Spanish Empire
Branch/serviceSpanish Army
Years of service1690s-1730s
RankSergeant major
UnitFuerte de Buenos Aires
CommandsCompañía de Guardias Españolas de Buenos Aires

Biography

Miguel Antonio de Merlos was baptized on January 20, 1669 in the Parish of Santa Eulalia,[4] the son of Diego de Merlos y Calvo and Estefanía Jiménez de los Ríos, belonging to Spanish noble families from Murcia.[5] He did his studies in Spain and arrived at the Río de la Plata as a passenger of Capt. Francisco de Retama in 1691.[6]

Installed in Buenos Aires, Merlos held various military and political positions, including as commander of the Fuerte de Buenos Aires.[7] He also served as notary of the Real Asiento de Inglaterra,[8] and held the position of Mayordomo of Buenos Aires in 1705 and 1740 (hierarchical position, concerning to managing the finances of the city).[9]

His first public position in the Spanish domains of America was as governor of Porco (Potosí, Bolivia), appointed on September 15, 1708, during the viceroyalty of Manuel de Oms, 1st Marquis of Castelldosrius.[10]

Family

Miguel Antonio de Merlos was married in the Buenos Aires Cathedral to Rosa Martinez de Figueroa,[11] daughter of Juan Martínez Guerrero and Leonor Ramírez de Arellano, belonging to an illustrious family of the Kingdom of Chile.[12] He and his wife were the parents of Miguel Antonio de Merlos y Martínez, caballero of the Real Orden de Santiago,[13] who served as alcalde of 2nd vote (vice-mayor) of Buenos Aires in 1735.[14]

References
  1. Boletín, Volume 27, Part 1, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, 1942
  2. Real compañía de guardias marinas y Colegio naval, Instituto histórico de marina, 1946
  3. Los americanos en las órdenes nobiliarias, Guillermo Lohmann Villena, 1993, ISBN 9788400073510
  4. Santiago, Guillermo Lohmann Villena, 1947
  5. Élites urbanas en Hispanoamérica, Secretariado de Publicaciones, Universidad de Sevilla, 2005, ISBN 9788447208746
  6. Élites urbanas en Hispanoamérica, Secretariado de Publicaciones, Universidad de Sevilla, 2005, ISBN 9788447208746
  7. Caballeros de la Orden de Santiago, siglo XVIII, Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent, 1978, ISBN 9788400043377
  8. Buenos Aires, siglo diez y ocho, by Sandra Olivero, 2006, ISBN 9788447210596
  9. Élites urbanas en Hispanoamérica: de la conquista a la independencia, Secretariado de Publicaciones, Universidad de Sevilla, 2005
  10. Catalogo, Volume 20, Tip. de la Revista de archivos, bibliotecas y museos
  11. Matrimonios 1656-1762, Catedral de Buenos Aires
  12. Los americanos en las órdenes nobiliarias (1529-1900), Guillermo Lohmann Villena
  13. Acuerdos del extinguido Cabildo de Buenos Aires, Volume 7; Volume 25, by Buenos Aires (Argentina). Cabildo, José Juan Biedma, Augusto S Mallié
  14. Registro estadístico de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Parts 1-2, Buenos Aires Province
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