Pedro de Rábago y Terán
Encyclopedia
Pedro de Rábago y Terán was a Spanish administrator and military officer in New Spain
, now Mexico
. He was governor of Coahuila
from August 1744 to June 1754. As an explorer in the late 1740s he went on three expeditions to the confluence of the Rio Grande
and the Rio Conchos
, known as La Junta de los Rios, in order to establish a presidio
or military camp to serve six missions in the area of La Junta, which were being attacked by the Apache
.He recommended a site that became the Presidio de la Junta de los Ríos Norte y Conchos near what is now Presidio, Texas
.
As his term as governor of Coahuila expired he was appointed captain of the Presidio del Santísimo Sacramento del Valle de Santa Rosa, where he dealt with problems at the San Xavier missions near present-day Rockdale, Texas
that had been exacerbated by his nephew Felipe de Rábago y Terán. Rábago y Terán explored the area around the Llano
and San Saba
rivers. Relocating the San Xavier missions to the San Marcos River
, he became ill in an epidemic at the missions and died in early 1756.
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, now 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...
. He was governor of Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
from August 1744 to June 1754. As an explorer in the late 1740s he went on three expeditions to the confluence of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
and the Rio Conchos
Rio Conchos
The Rio Conchos is a large river in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It joins the Río Bravo del Norte at the town of Ojinaga, Chihuahua.-Description:...
, known as La Junta de los Rios, in order to establish a presidio
Presidio
A presidio is a fortified base established by the Spanish in North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fortresses were built to protect against pirates, hostile native Americans and enemy colonists. Other presidios were held by Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth...
or military camp to serve six missions in the area of La Junta, which were being attacked by the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
.He recommended a site that became the Presidio de la Junta de los Ríos Norte y Conchos near what is now Presidio, Texas
Presidio, Texas
Presidio is a city in Presidio County, Texas, United States. It stands on the Rio Grande , on the opposite side of the U.S.-Mexico border from Ojinaga, Chihuahua. The population was 4,167 at the 2000 census....
.
As his term as governor of Coahuila expired he was appointed captain of the Presidio del Santísimo Sacramento del Valle de Santa Rosa, where he dealt with problems at the San Xavier missions near present-day Rockdale, Texas
Rockdale, Texas
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,440 at the 2000 census.Rockdale was the site of a large Alcoa smelting operation, which could produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009.Author George Sessions...
that had been exacerbated by his nephew Felipe de Rábago y Terán. Rábago y Terán explored the area around the Llano
Llano River
The Llano River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 105 mi long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains part of the Edwards Plateau in Texas Hill Country northwest of Austin....
and San Saba
San Saba River
The San Saba River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is an undeveloped and scenic waterway located on the northern boundary of the Edwards Plateau.-Course:...
rivers. Relocating the San Xavier missions to the San Marcos River
San Marcos River
The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs, the location of Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos, Texas. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, and Texas Wild Rice...
, he became ill in an epidemic at the missions and died in early 1756.
External links
- Rabago y Teran, Pedro de at the Handbook of Texas Online