José Basco y Vargas
Encyclopedia
José Basco y Vargas, 1st Count of the Conquest of Batanes Islands ( (1733–1805) was a naval officer who served as the 53rd governor of the Philippines
under Spanish colonial rule
, from 1778 to 1787. He was the most economic minded governor-general.
, or the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which revived the tobacco
industry in the Philippines
. He established the bases for the takeoff of the agriculture of Philippine export with a tolerance policy towards the activity in illegal theory of the foreign retailers, mainly English
and North American who went to Manila to complete their product shipments. He also made the colony independent, by freeing it from the control of New Spain
, which is today Mexico
. In 1782, Basco sent an expedition to undertake the formalities of acquiring the consent of the Ivatans to become subjects of the king of Spain. On June 26, 1783, Joseph Huelva y Melgarjo became the first governor of Batanes
. The new province was named Provincia de la Concepcion and Governor General Basco was named “Conde de la Conquista de Batanes” and the capital town was named after him. By January 21, 1789, King Carlos III granted in prize to his numerous services the title of Count of Conquista of the Islands Fulling Mills; grace to which he added to the appointments of Squad leader and Governor of Cartagena. Basco was replaced by Pedro de Sarrio on November 22, 1787.
, in the Philippine province of Batanes
group of islands, was named after him.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
under Spanish colonial rule
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, from 1778 to 1787. He was the most economic minded governor-general.
Governor General of the Philippines
He established the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del PaísSociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
The Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment Spain, and to a lesser degree in some of her colonies .-History:The Sociedades Económicas were founded as part of a movement to...
, or the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which revived the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
industry in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He established the bases for the takeoff of the agriculture of Philippine export with a tolerance policy towards the activity in illegal theory of the foreign retailers, mainly English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and North American who went to Manila to complete their product shipments. He also made the colony independent, by freeing it from the control of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, which is today Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In 1782, Basco sent an expedition to undertake the formalities of acquiring the consent of the Ivatans to become subjects of the king of Spain. On June 26, 1783, Joseph Huelva y Melgarjo became the first governor of Batanes
Batanes
The Province of Batanes , also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan...
. The new province was named Provincia de la Concepcion and Governor General Basco was named “Conde de la Conquista de Batanes” and the capital town was named after him. By January 21, 1789, King Carlos III granted in prize to his numerous services the title of Count of Conquista of the Islands Fulling Mills; grace to which he added to the appointments of Squad leader and Governor of Cartagena. Basco was replaced by Pedro de Sarrio on November 22, 1787.
Legacy
In recognition for his deeds, the town of BascoBasco, Batanes
Basco is a 5th class municipality in the Batanes Province, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Batanes...
, in the Philippine province of Batanes
Batanes
The Province of Batanes , also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan...
group of islands, was named after him.