Pedro Romero de Terreros
Encyclopedia
Pedro Romero de Terreros (1710–1781), the first Count of Regla, was a mining magnate and philanthropist in 18th century Mexico.
, Spain, on June 28, 1710, the fifth (of six) child and fourth son of Ana Gómez and José Romero de Terreros. His parents had little land or wealth but were related to the two largest landowners in Cortegana. Pedro and his brothers were all literate, although no documentation has been found as to how they were educated. Pedro showed signs of having a superior intellect, and his parents originally considered having him trained for the priesthood.
It is likely that Romero de Terreros began his career as a clerk in Puerto de Santa María. There would have been little opportunity for advancement, and the pay would have been very low. As a younger son, Romero de Terreros would not have received the same support from his parents as his elder brothers received, and he would have needed to find his own way. Several members of his extended family had previously emigrated to the New World
and operated successful businesses there, and his eldest brother Francisco had emigrated in 1723 to work for their uncle Juan Vázquez Terreros; Francisco died in Mexico in 1728.
About 1730, Romero de Terreros journeyed to Mexico. According to a contemporary account, Romero de Terreros's trip may originally have been to settle his brother's estate, but he chose to stay and assist his uncle. On his arrival, he followed local practice of recent European immigrants using the honorific "don
", a title which in Spain was reserved for the minor nobility (hidalgos). Romero de Terreros joined his uncle in Querétaro, the third largest city in Mexico.
On his arrival, Pedro learned that his uncle was almost bankrupt; rather than being trained, Pedro was instead almost immediately given full authority over his uncle's businesses. After his uncle's death in 1735, Romero de Terreros administered the estate. According to the will, Romero de Terreros would receive one-third of the profits from any future business, with the rest to be shared by Vázquez's children. In the will, Vázquez praised Romero de Terreros for his "activity, accuracy, and good work". By 1747, however, he settled his uncle's estate; money from the sale of the businesses was distributed to Vazquez's children.
of Querétaro, and in 1752 was given an honorary knighthood in the Order of Calatrava
. Spanish King Ferdinand VI granted Romero de Terreros a special exemption so that he could be inducted into the order from Querétaro rather than have to travel to Spain for the ceremony.
Romero de Terreros lobbied very hard to be elevated to the nobility. His request was granted in 1768, when he was named the first Count of Regla (Conde de Santa María de Regla).
and another 91,023 pesos to the seminary College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
, as well as 100,000 pesos for the monastery in Pachuca
.
Romero de Terreros attempted to endow a convent on the grounds of the College of San Fernando de México in 1756, but the head of the seminary refused the request. After hearing that authorities were considering establishing a mission to the Lipan Apache tribe in Spanish Texas
, Romero de Terreros volunteered to provide initial funding for the effort. He agreed to give 150,000 pesos to support 20 missionaries over a three-year-period and to purchase all church furnishings and other necessities. In return, he asked that the missionaries come from the College of San Fernando de México and the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, and that his cousin, Father Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, be given responsibility for the mission. After three years, the government would pay mission expenses, and the government would also fund a garrison to protect the missionaries. Unlike most missions, this one would report to the viceroy instead of the governor. Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá
was established in 1757. The mission was destroyed, and Father Terreros killed, the following year by Comanche
who were angered that the Spanish had allied with the Comanche's traditional enemies, the Apache.
Besides his support for the Catholic Church in Mexico, Romero de Terreros also gave funds to civil authorities. He funded a battleship for the Spanish navy.
Between 1774 and 1777, Romero de Terreros established the Nacional Monte de Piedad
, a charitable institution and pawnshop
, as an attempt to provide interest-free or low-interest loans to the poor.
, the painting is "the only such work executed in Mexico in the mid-1700s that attempted to document a contemporary historical event". It remained in the Terreros family for the next 200 years.
, while the rest remain with the family. According to his biographer Edith Boorstein Couturier, "no equivalent archives exist for other important eighteenth-century figures".
Terreros has been the subject of many biographies, starting with an 1858 tome written by his great-grandson, Juan Ramón Romero de Terreros. Another of his descendants, Manuel Romero de Terreros, wrote the first modern biography of him in 1943, but Courturier calls this book "a hagiographic and uncritical account". In the decades since, Terreros has been written about several times, largely in terms of his impact into labor relations within Mexico.
Early life
Pedro Romero de Terreros was born in CorteganaCortegana
Cortegana is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 4,952 inhabitants.-External links:* - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía*...
, Spain, on June 28, 1710, the fifth (of six) child and fourth son of Ana Gómez and José Romero de Terreros. His parents had little land or wealth but were related to the two largest landowners in Cortegana. Pedro and his brothers were all literate, although no documentation has been found as to how they were educated. Pedro showed signs of having a superior intellect, and his parents originally considered having him trained for the priesthood.
It is likely that Romero de Terreros began his career as a clerk in Puerto de Santa María. There would have been little opportunity for advancement, and the pay would have been very low. As a younger son, Romero de Terreros would not have received the same support from his parents as his elder brothers received, and he would have needed to find his own way. Several members of his extended family had previously emigrated to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
and operated successful businesses there, and his eldest brother Francisco had emigrated in 1723 to work for their uncle Juan Vázquez Terreros; Francisco died in Mexico in 1728.
About 1730, Romero de Terreros journeyed to Mexico. According to a contemporary account, Romero de Terreros's trip may originally have been to settle his brother's estate, but he chose to stay and assist his uncle. On his arrival, he followed local practice of recent European immigrants using the honorific "don
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
", a title which in Spain was reserved for the minor nobility (hidalgos). Romero de Terreros joined his uncle in Querétaro, the third largest city in Mexico.
On his arrival, Pedro learned that his uncle was almost bankrupt; rather than being trained, Pedro was instead almost immediately given full authority over his uncle's businesses. After his uncle's death in 1735, Romero de Terreros administered the estate. According to the will, Romero de Terreros would receive one-third of the profits from any future business, with the rest to be shared by Vázquez's children. In the will, Vázquez praised Romero de Terreros for his "activity, accuracy, and good work". By 1747, however, he settled his uncle's estate; money from the sale of the businesses was distributed to Vazquez's children.
Career
Romero de Terreros showed an affinity for making money and soon brought the businesses back into profitability. In 1741, he began to invest in silver mines. As his personal wealth rose, so did his social status. He served as alcaldeAlcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of Querétaro, and in 1752 was given an honorary knighthood in the Order of Calatrava
Order of Calatrava
The Order of Calatrava was the first military order founded in Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bull confirming the Order of Calatrava as a Militia was given by Pope Alexander III on September 26, 1164.-Origins and Foundation:...
. Spanish King Ferdinand VI granted Romero de Terreros a special exemption so that he could be inducted into the order from Querétaro rather than have to travel to Spain for the ceremony.
Personal life
On June 29, 1756, Romero de Terreros married noblewoman Maria Antonia de Trebuesto y Dávalos. The bride was the youngest daughter of the Countess of Miravalle, whose family had lived in Mexico for over 150 years. The Miravalle family was in dire financial straits, so Trebuesto was given no dowry. Romero de Terreros promised to give her 50,000 pesos if he died first, and, as a wedding present, gave her a large amount of jewelry, including two dresses covered in diamonds, and sponsored dowries for several young women to join convents in the city. The wedding celebration lasted two days and cost over 66,000 pesos, much more than Romero de Terreros would later pay for his home in Mexico City. The ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Mexico Manuel Rubio y Salinas. The couple had nine children before Trebuesto died from complications of childbirth in 1766.Romero de Terreros lobbied very hard to be elevated to the nobility. His request was granted in 1768, when he was named the first Count of Regla (Conde de Santa María de Regla).
Philanthropy
In the 1740s Romero de Terreros became a patron of the Franciscan order in Mexico. From 1745 through 1781 he gave 41,933 pesos to the Franciscan seminary College of San Fernando de MéxicoCollege of San Fernando de Mexico
The College of San Fernando de Mexico was a Roman Catholic Franciscan missionary college, or seminary , founded in Mexico City by the Order of Friars Minor on October 15, 1734...
and another 91,023 pesos to the seminary College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
The College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro was the first missionary college, or seminary , in the New World to train missionaries. One of its founders was Father Damián Massanet. The college, founded in the latter 1600s, was located in Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain, in present day...
, as well as 100,000 pesos for the monastery in Pachuca
Pachuca
Pachuca, formally Pachuca de Soto is the capital of the Mexican state of Hidalgo. It is located in the south-central part of the state. Pachuca de Soto is also the name of the municipality of which the city serves as municipal seat...
.
Romero de Terreros attempted to endow a convent on the grounds of the College of San Fernando de México in 1756, but the head of the seminary refused the request. After hearing that authorities were considering establishing a mission to the Lipan Apache tribe in Spanish Texas
Spanish Texas
Spanish Texas was one of the interior provinces of New Spain from 1690 until 1821. Although Spain claimed ownership of the territory, which comprised part of modern-day Texas, including the land north of the Medina and Nueces Rivers, the Spanish did not attempt to colonize the area until after...
, Romero de Terreros volunteered to provide initial funding for the effort. He agreed to give 150,000 pesos to support 20 missionaries over a three-year-period and to purchase all church furnishings and other necessities. In return, he asked that the missionaries come from the College of San Fernando de México and the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, and that his cousin, Father Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, be given responsibility for the mission. After three years, the government would pay mission expenses, and the government would also fund a garrison to protect the missionaries. Unlike most missions, this one would report to the viceroy instead of the governor. Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá
Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá
Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá was one of the Spanish missions in Texas, established in 1757 in what is now Menard County. Located along the San Saba River, the mission was intended to convert members of the Lipan Apache tribe. Although no Apache ever resided at the mission, its existence...
was established in 1757. The mission was destroyed, and Father Terreros killed, the following year by Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
who were angered that the Spanish had allied with the Comanche's traditional enemies, the Apache.
Besides his support for the Catholic Church in Mexico, Romero de Terreros also gave funds to civil authorities. He funded a battleship for the Spanish navy.
Between 1774 and 1777, Romero de Terreros established the Nacional Monte de Piedad
Nacional Monte de Piedad
The Nacional Monte de Piedad is a not-for-profit- institution and pawnshop whose main office is located just off the Zócalo, or main plaza of Mexico City. It was established between 1774 and 1777 by Pedro Romero de Terreros as part of a movement to provide interest-free or low-interest loans to...
, a charitable institution and pawnshop
Pawnbroker
A pawnbroker is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral...
, as an attempt to provide interest-free or low-interest loans to the poor.
Art
In 1762, Romero de Terreros commissioned a painting to honor his cousin who had died in the attack on the San Sabá mission. The resulting The Destruction of Mission San Sabá in the Province of Texas and the Martyrdom of the Fathers Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, Joseph Santiesteban is the earliest painting known to depict a historical event in Texas. According to the Handbook of TexasHandbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the painting is "the only such work executed in Mexico in the mid-1700s that attempted to document a contemporary historical event". It remained in the Terreros family for the next 200 years.
Legacy
Beginning in 1750, Romero de Terreros retained every letter addressed to him as well as most of his written business records. His descendants preserved this archive. Some of the records now reside at Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, while the rest remain with the family. According to his biographer Edith Boorstein Couturier, "no equivalent archives exist for other important eighteenth-century figures".
Terreros has been the subject of many biographies, starting with an 1858 tome written by his great-grandson, Juan Ramón Romero de Terreros. Another of his descendants, Manuel Romero de Terreros, wrote the first modern biography of him in 1943, but Courturier calls this book "a hagiographic and uncritical account". In the decades since, Terreros has been written about several times, largely in terms of his impact into labor relations within Mexico.