Pedro de Melo
Encyclopedia
Pedro de Melo de Portugal y Vilhena (Valladolid
, 1734 - Buenos Aires
, 15 April 1797) was a Spanish soldier and politician, who sered as viceroy in the Rio de la Plata
was created. He was member of the Real Audiencia and worked for the creation in 1794 of a Royal Counsel with viceroy Nicolás Antonio de Arredondo
.
He was designated viceroy after the dimission of Arredondo, on 16 March 1795. He kept the main policies of previous viceroys: improve the streets of Buenos Aires, or fortified defenses for Montevideo, but he had to face Portuguese incursions on the Banda Oriental. He created laws to deal with the shortage of bread, improved the viceroyal residence, and received ships from the pacific ocean.
Pedro de Melo was interested in expanding the colonization towards the coastline of Patagonia
, ordering Félix de Azara
to design plans for that purpose. However, Pedro de Melo died before being able to futfill them.
Pedro de Melo died on 15 April 1797, still being viceoy. The Real Audiencia took power for a brief period, to prevent a power vacuum in the meantime that the news arrived to Spain and a new vieroy was designated. Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú
arrived shortly after.
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
, 1734 - Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, 15 April 1797) was a Spanish soldier and politician, who sered as viceroy in the Rio de la Plata
Biography
Pedro de Melo served in many military roles in Spain before moving to America in 1770. He was designated as gobernor when the Viceroyalty of the Río de la PlataViceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
was created. He was member of the Real Audiencia and worked for the creation in 1794 of a Royal Counsel with viceroy Nicolás Antonio de Arredondo
Nicolás Antonio de Arredondo
Nicolás Antonio de Arredondo was a Spanish soldier and politician born in Madrid. He worked as viceroy of the Río de la Plata.-Career:...
.
He was designated viceroy after the dimission of Arredondo, on 16 March 1795. He kept the main policies of previous viceroys: improve the streets of Buenos Aires, or fortified defenses for Montevideo, but he had to face Portuguese incursions on the Banda Oriental. He created laws to deal with the shortage of bread, improved the viceroyal residence, and received ships from the pacific ocean.
Pedro de Melo was interested in expanding the colonization towards the coastline of Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, ordering Félix de Azara
Félix de Azara
Félix Manuel de Azara was a Spanish military officer, naturalist and engineer. He was born in Barbunales, Aragon....
to design plans for that purpose. However, Pedro de Melo died before being able to futfill them.
Pedro de Melo died on 15 April 1797, still being viceoy. The Real Audiencia took power for a brief period, to prevent a power vacuum in the meantime that the news arrived to Spain and a new vieroy was designated. Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú
Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú
Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú was a Spanish soldier and politician who spent most of his career in South America.Born in Villafranca del Bierzo, León, Olaguer was sent to Buenos Aires as a military specialist during the governorship of Pedro de Cevallos. He took part in the siege of Colonia del...
arrived shortly after.