Melchor de Navarrete
Encyclopedia
Melchor de Navarrete was a Spanish soldier and governor of Cartagena de Indias
(Colombia
, 1739–1740), Spanish Florida
(1749–1752) and the Yucatan
(Mexico
, 1754–1758).
, Bishop Calahorra
, La Rioja (Spain)
. He was the son of the ruler of Briones Francisco de Navarrete and of Josefa Bujanda y Bañuelos. His brothers were Javier and Teresa de Navarrete y Bujanda.
Melchor de Navarrete began his career as military and over time, he came to Field Marshal
armies. On February 1, 1736, he settled in Cartagena de Indias
as a Lieutenant of King and the March 12, 1737. He took office before the council of Cartagena. In 1739, due to the death of Governor Pedro Hidalgo, Melchor de Navarrete was appointed Acting governor
of the city. He was in charge of the administrative and supply of food. While the admiral Blas de Lezo
held the military command. In 1740, he entered the Order of Santiago
and he won the title of Marshal of Field of the Royal Army. In this city he had to struggle against the British Admiral Sir Edward Vernon
, who tried to conquer the fortress of Cartagena de Indias, accompanied by Spanish sailor Blas de Lezo and in the presence of Viceroy of New Granada
Sebastián de Eslava
, Lieutenant General
of the Royal Army and that lived in that city. On August 8, 1749, he was appointed governor of Spanish Florida
. During his years in office he defended the region in the War of Jenkins' Ear
. Melchor de Navarrete left office on July 3, 1752. In this year, he was admitted as Knight of Order of Santiago. On April 19, 1754, he was appointed Governor and Captain General
of the Mexican province of Yucatán
, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and of Mérida
, its capital city. Being governor of Yucatán, Campeche
council requested permission to build outside the square of the province a powder magazine, as this normally caught fire with the summer storms. In 1758 this was already done. He completed his service in the province of Yucatan in 1758. After that, he returned to Cartagena de Indias, city where he died at eight o'clock in the evening of August 28, 1761.
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
(Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, 1739–1740), Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
(1749–1752) and the Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
(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...
, 1754–1758).
Biography
Melchor de Navarrete y Bujanda, was born on January 17, 1693, in the town of BrioneBrione
Brione may refer to the following places:in Italy*Brione, Lombardy, a comune in the Province of Brescia*Brione, Trentino, a comune in the Province of Trentoin Switzerland:*Brione, Switzerland a comune in the Canton of Ticino...
, Bishop Calahorra
Calahorra
Calahorra, , La Rioja, Spain is a municipality in the comarca of Rioja Baja, near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During ancient Roman times, Calahorra was a municipium known as Calagurris.-Location:...
, La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
. He was the son of the ruler of Briones Francisco de Navarrete and of Josefa Bujanda y Bañuelos. His brothers were Javier and Teresa de Navarrete y Bujanda.
Melchor de Navarrete began his career as military and over time, he came to Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
armies. On February 1, 1736, he settled in Cartagena de Indias
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
as a Lieutenant of King and the March 12, 1737. He took office before the council of Cartagena. In 1739, due to the death of Governor Pedro Hidalgo, Melchor de Navarrete was appointed Acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
of the city. He was in charge of the administrative and supply of food. While the admiral Blas de Lezo
Blas de Lezo
Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta , also known as "Patapalo" , and later as "Mediohombre" for the many wounds suffered in his long military life, was a Spanish admiral, and one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy...
held the military command. In 1740, he entered the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
and he won the title of Marshal of Field of the Royal Army. In this city he had to struggle against the British Admiral Sir Edward Vernon
Edward Vernon
Edward Vernon was an English naval officer. Vernon was born in Westminster, England and went to Westminster School. He joined the Navy in 1700 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1702 and served on several different ships for the next five years...
, who tried to conquer the fortress of Cartagena de Indias, accompanied by Spanish sailor Blas de Lezo and in the presence of Viceroy of New Granada
Viceroyalty of New Granada
The Viceroyalty of New Granada was the name given on 27 May 1717, to a Spanish colonial jurisdiction in northern South America, corresponding mainly to modern Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The territory corresponding to Panama was incorporated later in 1739...
Sebastián de Eslava
Sebastián de Eslava
Sebastián de Eslava y Lazaga was a Spanish general and colonial official. From April 24, 1740 to November 6, 1749 he was viceroy of the newly reestablished Viceroyalty of New Granada. He was governing the colony at the time of the defeat of British Admiral Edward Vernon at Cartagena de Indias...
, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
of the Royal Army and that lived in that city. On August 8, 1749, he was appointed governor of Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
. During his years in office he defended the region in the War of Jenkins' Ear
War of Jenkins' Ear
The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742. Its unusual name, coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1858, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in...
. Melchor de Navarrete left office on July 3, 1752. In this year, he was admitted as Knight of Order of Santiago. On April 19, 1754, he was appointed Governor 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 the Mexican province of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and of Mérida
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
, its capital city. Being governor of Yucatán, Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
council requested permission to build outside the square of the province a powder magazine, as this normally caught fire with the summer storms. In 1758 this was already done. He completed his service in the province of Yucatan in 1758. After that, he returned to Cartagena de Indias, city where he died at eight o'clock in the evening of August 28, 1761.