José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa
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Don José Fernando de Abascal Marquis of La Concordia |
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| Viceroy of Peru | |
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In office August 20, 1806 – July 7, 1816 |
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| Monarch | Charles IV |
| Prime Minister | Manuel de Godoy |
| Preceded by | Gabriel de Avilés |
| Succeeded by | Joaquín de la Pezuela |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 3, 1743 Oviedo, Spain |
| Died | June 30, 1821 Madrid, Spain |
| Religion | Catholic |
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa, 1st Marquis of La Concordia (Spanish: José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa, primer Marqués de la Concordia), (sometimes spelled Souza) (June 3, 1743, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain – June 30, 1821, Madrid) was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator in America. From August 20, 1806 to July 7, 1816 he was viceroy of Peru, during the Spanish American wars of independence.
Abascal was born into a noble family. At the age of 19 he entered the army. After serving for 20 years he was promoted to colonel, and later in the war against France, to brigadier. In 1796 he took part in the defense of Havana against the British. Three years later he was named commanding general and intendant of Nueva Galicia (western Mexico). He took up that office in 1800. In 1804 he was named viceroy of Río de la Plata in Buenos Aires. He never took possession of the office, because in the same year (1804) he was named viceroy of Peru.
He was unable to occupy the position of viceroy in Lima until 1806, because he was taken prisoner by the British during his voyage from Spain. Once in office, Abascal promoted educational reforms, reorganized the army, and stamped out local rebellions. The last cargo of black slaves in Peru was landed during his administration, in 1806. At that time an adult male slave sold for 600 pesos.
The Balmis Expedition arrived in Lima on May 23, 1806. This expedition, named for its head, Doctor Francisco Javier de Balmis, was propagating smallpox vaccine throughout the Spanish Empire. Balmis himself was not with the group that arrived in Peru. The Peruvian group was headed by Doctor José Salvany, Balmis's deputy. The vaccine had proceeded them, however, having arrived in Lima from Buenos Aires. On August 2, 1805, 22 Brazilian slaves had been vaccinated there and sent as living carriers of the vaccine to northern Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Peru. (The Balmis expedition used Spanish orphans for the same purpose.) Abascal ordered mass vaccinations in Lima, but without much success. The vaccine was available, but it was not free, and vested interests were able to preserve it as a source of revenue.
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