Juan de Acuña, marqués de Casafuerte
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Don Juan de Acuña Marquis of Casa Fuerte Caballero de Santiago |
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| Viceroy of New Spain | |
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In office October 15, 1722 – March 17, 1734 |
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| Monarch | Philip V |
| Preceded by | Baltasar de Zúñiga |
| Succeeded by | Juan Antonio de Vizarrón |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 22, 1658 Lima, Peru |
| Died | March 17, 1734 (aged 76) Mexico City, Mexico |
Juan de Acuña y Bejarano, 2nd Marquis of Casa Fuerte (Spanish: Juan de Acuña y Bejarano, segundo Marqués de Casa Fuerte) (February 22, 1658 – March 17, 1734) was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain.
Juan de Acuña was the second Criollo (meaning that he was Spanish but born in the New World) to govern in New Spain. He was born in Lima in 1658, the son of Juan de Acuña and of Margarita Bejarano. At a young age joined the military. He distinguished himself in the service, holding many important positions. He began as a captain of infantry and advanced to general of artillery. He was governor of Messina, Sicily. He was made knight of the military Order of Santiago. He was military commander of the kingdoms of Aragon and Mallorca when he was named viceroy, captain general and president of the Audiencia of New Spain.
He made his solemn entry into Mexico City and took up his positions on October 15, 1722. He was well liked by the people of New Spain, not only because he was a criollo, but also because he chose his officials with more regard for their abilities than for their influence.
He found a nearly empty treasury and a great public debt, and it was necessary that he pay special attention to the finances of the colony. He was able to augment the rents due the treasury by about one million pesos annually, to eight million pesos a year.
He pacified completely the region of Nayar, sending an armed expedition there under Juan Flores de San Pedro and establishing colonies. He also established a cannon foundry in Orizaba (Veracruz) to arm the ports and the coast guard. He improved the drainage in the mines in Pachuca (Hidalgo), allowing more veins of ore to be worked.
The English were again exploiting the precious woods of the region, in Yucatan and Belize. A Spanish privateer seized an English sloop and frigate carrying logwood off , Yucatan (now in Quintana Roo). Acuña y Manrique sent an armed expedition consisting of two pirogues of war, one galleon and 300 men to dislodge the English. However, upon arrival the Spanish discovered that the English were numerous and well armed, with 800 men and large warships. The Spanish expedition was not successful. Parallel diplomatic negotiations also came to nothing. The viceroy let the matter drop, preferring to concentrate on things over which he had control. These included the garrisons at San Juan de Ulúa, Isla del Carmen, Veracruz, and the bays of Espíritu Santo and Pensacola.
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