Luis de Unzaga
Encyclopedia
Luis de Unzaga y Amezaga (1721–1790), also known as Luis Unzaga Y Amezaga, was a Spanish Governor of Louisiana from 1769 to 1777 as well as a captain general of Venezuela and Cuba.
He was born in Malaga, Spain, the son of a well-known Basque family, he served in the Italian war of 1735 and came to Havana
in 1740 where he was lieutenant governor of Puerto Principe, Cuba and later of Santiago de Cuba
.
During the Seven Years War he defended Havana against an English siege in 1762.
He accompanied Alejandro O'Reilly
to New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1769 to put down the Rebellion of 1768
of French settlers objecting to the turnover of Louisiana to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)
.
Following the formal establishment of the Cabildo (council)
, Unzaga became governor on December 1, 1769.
In 1770 he married Marie Elizabeth de St. Maxent, second daughter of Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent
, the wealthiest man in Louisiana.
Unzaga was noted for allowing open trade.
During the summer of 1776 he secretly helped the Americans by privately delivering five ton
s of gunpowder, out of the King's stores, to Captain George Gibson
and Lieutenant
Linn of the Virginia
Council of Defense. The gunpowder moved up the Mississippi
under the protection of the flag of Spain
and was used to thwart British plans to capture Fort Pitt
.
He became Captaincy General of Venezuela
from June 17, 1777 to December 10, 1782. In 1783 he became governor
for Cuba
where one of his first orders was ordering the a halt to the unrestrained cutting of cedars
.
He was born in Malaga, Spain, the son of a well-known Basque family, he served in the Italian war of 1735 and came to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in 1740 where he was lieutenant governor of Puerto Principe, Cuba and later of Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
.
During the Seven Years War he defended Havana against an English siege in 1762.
He accompanied Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly , was a military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century...
to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1769 to put down the Rebellion of 1768
Rebellion of 1768
The Rebellion of 1768 was an unsuccessful attempt by Creole and German settlers around New Orleans, Louisiana to stop the handover of the French Louisiana Territory, as had been stipulated in the Treaty of Fontainebleau, to Spain in 1768....
of French settlers objecting to the turnover of Louisiana to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)
Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)
The Treaty of Fontainebleau was a secret agreement in which France ceded Louisiana to Spain. The treaty followed the last battle in the French and Indian War, the Battle of Signal Hill in September 1762, which confirmed British control of Canada. However, the associated Seven Years War continued...
.
Following the formal establishment of the Cabildo (council)
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
, Unzaga became governor on December 1, 1769.
In 1770 he married Marie Elizabeth de St. Maxent, second daughter of Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent
Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent
Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent was a merchant and military officer who played a major role in development of the Louisiana Territory during its era as New France and New Spain....
, the wealthiest man in Louisiana.
Unzaga was noted for allowing open trade.
During the summer of 1776 he secretly helped the Americans by privately delivering five ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s of gunpowder, out of the King's stores, to Captain George Gibson
George Gibson
George C. Gibson , nicknamed Mooney, was a Canadian baseball player who caught for two different Major League teams, starting in 1905 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and ending his playing career with the New York Giants in 1918. In the 1920s and 1930s he served as manager for Pittsburgh and for the...
and Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Linn of the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Council of Defense. The gunpowder moved up the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
under the protection of the flag of Spain
Flag of Spain
The flag of Spain , as it is defined in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe...
and was used to thwart British plans to capture Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)
Fort Pitt was a fort built at the location of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.-French and Indian War:The fort was built from 1759 to 1761 during the French and Indian War , next to the site of former Fort Duquesne, at the confluence the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River...
.
He became Captaincy General of Venezuela
Captaincy General of Venezuela
The Captaincy General of Venezuela was an administrative district of colonial Spain, created in 1777 to provide more autonomy for the provinces of Venezuela, previously under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of New Granada and the Audiencia of Santo Domingo...
from June 17, 1777 to December 10, 1782. In 1783 he became governor
Colonial heads of Cuba
List of Colonial Heads of CubaDates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.For continuation after independence see List of Presidents of Cuba...
for Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
where one of his first orders was ordering the a halt to the unrestrained cutting of cedars
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
.