Juan Francisco de Güemes, 1st Count of Revillagigedo
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Don Juan Francisco de Güemes Count of Revillagigedo |
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| Viceroy of New Spain | |
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In office 9 July 1746 – 9 November 1755 |
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| Monarch | Ferdinand VI |
| Preceded by | The Count of Fuenclara |
| Succeeded by | Agustín de Ahumada |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 May, 1681 Reinosa, Cantabria |
| Died | 27 November, 1766 (aged 85) Madrid, Spain |
| Children | Juan Vicente de Güemes |
| Religion | Catholic |
Juan Francisco de Güemes y Horcasitas (Spanish: Juan Francisco de Güemes y Horcasitas, primer conde de Revillagigedo) (1681, Reinosa, Cantabria – 1766, Spain) was a Spanish general, governor of Havana, captain general of Cuba, and viceroy of New Spain (from 9 July 1746 to 9 November 1755).
Juan Francisco de Güemes y Horcasitas was the first count of Revillagigedo (sometimes spelled Revilla Gigedo) and a lieutenant general in the army. He participated in the siege of Gibraltar and the conquest of Oran. In 1734 he was named captain general of Havana, where he repulsed the attacks of the English, organized the cavalry, and improved the fortifications. While serving in this position, he was named viceroy of New Spain.
In New Spain, he presided at the funeral honors of the old king, Philip V, and proclaimed the new king, Ferdinand VI. He encouraged the colonization of Nuevo Santander (now Tamaulipas). Under his authority Colonel José de Escandón established eleven towns of Spanish and Indians and four missions, naming them variously for the surnames of the viceroy, the viceroy's wife, María Josefa Llera, and himself. Escandón was rewarded by the Crown for these services with the title of Conde de Sierra Gorda.
On 8 July 1750 the ruins of Palenque were discovered. On 8 May 1753 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was born in Guanajuato.
In 1750 famine struck Guanajuato and Zacatecas, followed by an epidemic. The following year a rebellion broke out among the Pimas in Sonora, and in order to suppress the rebellion, presidios were established at Altar and Tubac. On 13 May 1752 a near-total eclipse of the sun was observed in New Spain. This caused consternation among the population, because it was viewed as a portent of disaster.
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