Mariano Ricafort Palacin y Abarca
Encyclopedia
Mariano Ricafort Palacin y Abarca (1776–1846) was Governor of Cuba, Intendant
of La Paz
, part of Rio de la Plata
, and the 61st Governor-General of the Philippines
. He was a kind and able administrator, a governor of good judgment and much energy.
for life of his hometown, Huesca.
He enlisted in 1793 and was an infantry cadet during the campaign in Roussillon
. In October of 1799, he was promoted into first lieutenant. He was a military officer in the expedition of Spain
against Portugal
during the War of the Oranges
in 1801. He also participated in the Peninsular War
in which he was taken prisoner in October 1811. He was appointed by the Duke of Wellington
as military governor of Badajoz in 1812. He was colonel of the reunited Regiment of Extremadura at the end of the war in 1815.
then, under the expedition of General Pablo Morillo
. He received missions to pacify the colonies of Spain in the area. Ricafort was seriously wounded by a rifle shot in the bottom of the right leg, the bullet broke his tibia and fibula and left some shrapnel embedded in the skin. He was appointed Minister of the Tribunal Supremo de Guerra y Marina at Cusco
, Peru
before being Intendant
of La Paz
, capital of the intendancies of Rio de la Plata
. He was perpetual ambassador of the City of Paz in Peru
and he later returned to Spain, participating in no other active service until 1825.
, arriving at Manila
in October 1825, and by royal orders also took possession of the intendancy of exchequer. The government bought the Malacañan Palace in 1825, after being an idle property at the death of Colonel Jose Miguel. The first task of Ricafort was to consolidate the absolutist system after the liberal phase 1820-1823, and to that end in April 1826 issued a Good Government Ordinance. It was designed to ensure strict compliance with the laws, thus avoid any attempt of liberals. In 1826 also, order was given to return estates to the religious and what was declared to them by the decree of 1776; and that the secularization of any estate should not be proceeded except by express order of the king. Ricafort had to promote the development of agriculture and local trade. To meet this ends, the governor encouraged private trade by removing legal obstacles for doing so, he introduced modern farming tools, and exempted from paying taxes to Filipino farmers who should first make large plantations of coffee, cacao, cinnamon, and cloves; and also to those who should make the most progress in the plantations of Chinese cinnamon, tea, and mulberry trees, and in raising silk, etc. During his term, he started the first Filipino insurance company in February 1827 and promoted the work of the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
or the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which made the Philippines
have its first papermill. In 1827, Ricafort sent an expedition against Jolo
, which was kept off by the valor of its natives; but the Spaniards burned the settlements on the shore, doing the Moros much damage. In that same year, the Spanish government reestablished the naval bureau at Manila, now independent of the captain-general, and Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo
was appointed as its chief. He
proceeded to reorganize all branches of the service, including the campaign against the pirates, whom he was able to restrain to a great extent. He constructed many cruisers and other naval vessels, one of which remained in active service for the next forty years. During his term, the Real Compania de Filipinas, a company established in 1780 to promote ships from Spain
to pass the Cape of Good Hope, collapsed.
that an improvement in the colonial administration of Guam
and the Marianas be made. Several plans were debated, but the cheapest plan was chosen, that of Ganga Herrero. It only cost an annual expense of 6,424 pesos, as compared to the 8,000 peso budget. Ricafort appointed a new governor in the said colony, as the plan was applied on December 17, 1828. A rebellion, however, occurred in 1829. Ricafort then sent Captain Francisco Ramon de Villalobos to improve the colony's defenses and economy. In 1831, Villalobos succeeded as the governor of the colony. The Ricafort plan, however, failed mainly because Manila gave no new subsidy to Guam and the Marianas.
.
, as appointed by Ferdinand VII. His administration had to face a cholera epidemic that decimated the population and the return of exiled liberals. He was dismissed on March 7, 1834.
to be Captain General
of Galicia
at the same time. In November 1840, he was appointed Minister of War. By December of the same year, he was made commanding general of the Canary Islands
. By May 1841, he was made Captain General
of Aragon
, and Captain General
of Andalusia
by November of the same year. He continued serving in office until March 24, 1843, when he was appointed Captain General
of Extremadura
. The region ceased to exist by the same year, so Ricafort moved to Madrid
.
, Peru
, daughter of Ricafort's successor as Intendant
of La Paz
, Juan Sánchez Lima. She died in Madrid
on June 1, 1854. They were parents of Mariana, Asunción, Ricardo y Mariano Ricafort and Sanchez. Ricafort died on October 16, 1846 in Madrid
, Spain
.
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, part of Rio de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, and the 61st Governor-General of the Philippines
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
. He was a kind and able administrator, a governor of good judgment and much energy.
Early Life and Career
He was son of Jose Ricafort y Abarca, Advocate of the Royal Council, and Juana Palacin y Aysa, a member of a noble family in Huesca. He was baptized at the Cathredal of Huesca. He was made regidorRegidor
A Regidor is a member of a council of municipalities in Spain and Latin America. Portugal also used to have the same office of Regedor.-Mexico:...
for life of his hometown, Huesca.
He enlisted in 1793 and was an infantry cadet during the campaign in Roussillon
Roussillon
Roussillon is one of the historical counties of the former Principality of Catalonia, corresponding roughly to the present-day southern French département of Pyrénées-Orientales...
. In October of 1799, he was promoted into first lieutenant. He was a military officer in the expedition of Spain
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...
against Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
during the War of the Oranges
War of the Oranges
The War of the Oranges was a brief conflict in 1801 in which Spanish forces, instigated by the government of France, and ultimately supported by the French military, invaded Portugal...
in 1801. He also participated in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
in which he was taken prisoner in October 1811. He was appointed by the Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
as military governor of Badajoz in 1812. He was colonel of the reunited Regiment of Extremadura at the end of the war in 1815.
South America
He was promoted into a brigadier in 1816 after the campaign in Alto Peru. He was in PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
then, under the expedition of General Pablo Morillo
Pablo Morillo
Pablo Morillo y Morillo, Count of Cartagena and Marquess of La Puerta, aka El Pacificador was a Spanish general....
. He received missions to pacify the colonies of Spain in the area. Ricafort was seriously wounded by a rifle shot in the bottom of the right leg, the bullet broke his tibia and fibula and left some shrapnel embedded in the skin. He was appointed Minister of the Tribunal Supremo de Guerra y Marina at Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
before being Intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, capital of the intendancies of Rio de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
. He was perpetual ambassador of the City of Paz in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and he later returned to Spain, participating in no other active service until 1825.
Philippines
He went back to Spain before the end of the conquest of the South American colonies due to ill health. In 1825, he was named Governor-General of the PhilippinesGovernor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
, arriving at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in October 1825, and by royal orders also took possession of the intendancy of exchequer. The government bought the Malacañan Palace in 1825, after being an idle property at the death of Colonel Jose Miguel. The first task of Ricafort was to consolidate the absolutist system after the liberal phase 1820-1823, and to that end in April 1826 issued a Good Government Ordinance. It was designed to ensure strict compliance with the laws, thus avoid any attempt of liberals. In 1826 also, order was given to return estates to the religious and what was declared to them by the decree of 1776; and that the secularization of any estate should not be proceeded except by express order of the king. Ricafort had to promote the development of agriculture and local trade. To meet this ends, the governor encouraged private trade by removing legal obstacles for doing so, he introduced modern farming tools, and exempted from paying taxes to Filipino farmers who should first make large plantations of coffee, cacao, cinnamon, and cloves; and also to those who should make the most progress in the plantations of Chinese cinnamon, tea, and mulberry trees, and in raising silk, etc. During his term, he started the first Filipino insurance company in February 1827 and promoted the work of the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País
Sociedad 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 made 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...
have its first papermill. In 1827, Ricafort sent an expedition against Jolo
Jolo
Jolo may refer to:* Jolo Island* Jolo, Sulu* Jolo, West Virginia* Jolo is also the nickname of Swedish author Jan Olof Olsson....
, which was kept off by the valor of its natives; but the Spaniards burned the settlements on the shore, doing the Moros much damage. In that same year, the Spanish government reestablished the naval bureau at Manila, now independent of the captain-general, and Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo
Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo
Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo , a native of Cadiz, Spain, was the Spanish governor-general of the Philippines from December 23, 1830 to March 1, 1835. He was among the most illustrious rulers of the archipelago, on account of his ability, uprightness, and zeal for the public welfare...
was appointed as its chief. He
proceeded to reorganize all branches of the service, including the campaign against the pirates, whom he was able to restrain to a great extent. He constructed many cruisers and other naval vessels, one of which remained in active service for the next forty years. During his term, the Real Compania de Filipinas, a company established in 1780 to promote ships from Spain
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...
to pass the Cape of Good Hope, collapsed.
Guam and the Marianas
In 1828, he received orders from MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
that an improvement in the colonial administration of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
and the Marianas be made. Several plans were debated, but the cheapest plan was chosen, that of Ganga Herrero. It only cost an annual expense of 6,424 pesos, as compared to the 8,000 peso budget. Ricafort appointed a new governor in the said colony, as the plan was applied on December 17, 1828. A rebellion, however, occurred in 1829. Ricafort then sent Captain Francisco Ramon de Villalobos to improve the colony's defenses and economy. In 1831, Villalobos succeeded as the governor of the colony. The Ricafort plan, however, failed mainly because Manila gave no new subsidy to Guam and the Marianas.
Dagohoy Rebellion
Upon Ricafort's order, Alcade-mayor Jose Lazaro Cairo, at the head of 2,200 Filipino-Spanish troops, equivalent to two armed regiments, and several batteries, invaded Bohol on May 7, 1827. The Boholanos resisted fiercely, Cairo eventually failed. In April 1828, another Spanish expedition under Captain Manuel Sanz landed in Bohol. After more than a year of hard campaign, he finally subdued the patriots. By August 31, 1829, the rebellion had ceased. Ricafort, with chivalric magnanimity, pardoned 19,420 survivors and permitted them to live in new villages at the Bohol lowlands. It ended the longest revolt in the PhilippinesPhilippines
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...
.
Cuba
On his return to Spain in 1831, he requested the Captaincy General of Mallorca, the Canary Islands or any entity that is vacant. From 1832 to 1834, he served as captain general of CubaCuba
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...
, as appointed by Ferdinand VII. His administration had to face a cholera epidemic that decimated the population and the return of exiled liberals. He was dismissed on March 7, 1834.
Later work
He was senator from 1837 to 1838 and moved to A CorunaA Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
to be Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of Galicia
Galicia
-Geographic regions:* Galicia , an autonomous community in northwestern Spain** Gallaecia, a province of the Roman Empire** Kingdom of Galicia, a medieval kingdom**Nueva Galicia :*** Nueva Galicia, a region of New Spain, now in Mexico...
at the same time. In November 1840, he was appointed Minister of War. By December of the same year, he was made commanding general of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. By May 1841, he was made Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, and Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
by November of the same year. He continued serving in office until March 24, 1843, when he was appointed Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
. The region ceased to exist by the same year, so Ricafort moved to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Personal life
In 1803, he married Paula Antonia Sanchez of LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, daughter of Ricafort's successor as Intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, Juan Sánchez Lima. She died in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
on June 1, 1854. They were parents of Mariana, Asunción, Ricardo y Mariano Ricafort and Sanchez. Ricafort died on October 16, 1846 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
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...
.