Martín de Alarcón

Martín de Alarcón
5ºGovernor of the Spanish Colony of Texas
In office 1705–1708
Preceded by	Mathias de Aguirre
Succeeded by	Simón Padilla y Córdova
9ºGovernor of the Spanish Colony of Texas
In office 1716–1719
Preceded by	Juan Valdez
Succeeded by	José de Azlor y Virto de Vera
Personal details
Born	unknown unknown
Died	unknown unknown
Profession	Political

Martín de Alarcón was the Governor of Coahuila and Spanish Texas from 1705 until 1708, and again from 1716 until 1719. He founded San Antonio, the first Spanish civilian settlement in Texas.

Alarcón was first appointed governor of the Spanish provinces of Coahuila and Texas in 1705. At this time, no Spanish settlements existed in Texas. The last of the original Catholic missions in East Texas had been abandoned in 1699. The French had been establishing settlements west of the Mississippi River, and Spanish authorities feared that the French would expand into Texas. In 1707, the viceroy of New Spain ordered all provincial governors to prevent the entry of foreigners and their goods. Alarcón proposed that one of the missions along the Rio Grande, Mission San Bernardo, be relocated into Texas, along the Frio River. Nothing came of this idea, and later in 1707 Alarcón authorized an expedition into Texas, primarily to dissuade the Indians in the area from becoming friendly with the French. The Spanish troops reached only as far as the Colorado River (Texas) o río San Marco, but spent some time exploring the area around the San Antonio River; they were much impressed with the land and availability of water.

In early 1716, the Spanish government authorized a second attempt to convert the Hasinai tribe of East Texas to Christianity. Four missions and a presidio were established. Several of the soldiers assigned to the presidio brought their families with them, marking the first Spanish women recorded to enter Texas.

Later that year, Alarcón was re-appointed governor of Coahuila and Texas. He soon received word that the new missions were in dire straits, with extremely low levels of provisions. Their supplies must come from the nearest Spanish settlement, San Juan Bautista, located 400 miles (644 km) away. Alarcón envisioned creating a way station between the interior provinces and the missions of Texas. He looked first to the headwaters of the San Antonio River, an area the Spanish had mapped in 1707. It was already home to a large community of Coahuiltecans.

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