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Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa, 1st Count of Manila

Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa
Count of Manila
El teniente general Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa, conde de Manila (Museo del Prado).jpg
71st Governor-General of the Philippines
In office
July 16, 1844 – December 26, 1849
Monarch Isabella II of Spain
Preceded by Francisco de Paula Alcalá de la Torre
Succeeded by Antonio María Blanco
Personal details
Born May 2, 1795
Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Died June 20, 1851(1851-06-20) (aged 56)
Madrid, Spain
Nationality Spanish
Spouse(s) Ana Berroeta Clavería, Countess of Manila

Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa (May 2, 1795 – June 20, 1851) was a Spanish army officer who served as the Governor-General of the Philippines from July 16, 1844 to December 26, 1849.

During his term in the country, he tried to give the Islands a government as good as that of modern Spain. He traveled through many provinces trying to learn the needs of Filipinos. He encouraged agriculture, improved the streets and suburbs of Manila, and succeeded in helping the country. He was given the title Count of Manila. The towns of Claveria in Misamis Oriental province, Claveria in Masbate province, and Claveria in Cagayan province were named in his honor.

His grandson, Narciso Clavería y de Palacios, 3rd Count of Manila, was an architect who designed the Toledo Railway Station.

Narciso Clavería was a native of Gerona, Spain but of Basque origin. He became a member of Spain's General Staff in 1838, colonel in 1839, and lieutenant general in 1844. He became governor of the Philippines on July 16, 1844.

The Philippines from 1521 to 1844 was one day behind the calendars of Asia, Europe and America. When Ferdinand Magellan sailed west around the world, he lost a few minutes every day. He was going the same way the sun was going, so his day ended later than that of the people who remained in Europe. Therefore, he was later in beginning the next day. By the time he reached the Philippines, he was a day behind Europe on his date. This error had been known for centuries. Finally, Clavería and the Archbishop of Manila agreed to remove Tuesday, December 31, 1844 from the Philippine calendar. So the day after Monday, December 30, 1844 was called Wednesday, January 1, 1845.


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