Buenaventura Marcó del Pont facts for kids

Buenaventura Marcó del Pont y Bory (1738–1818) was an important Spanish businessman. He started a famous family in Spain.

He was born in Calella de Palafrugell, a town in Catalonia, Spain. When he was young, he moved to Vigo, in Galicia. By 1750, he was already living there. He quickly became one of Vigo's most important business leaders. He built a new factory to process and sell fish. This helped send fish back to his home region. His successful business attracted other families from Catalonia to Vigo.

A Powerful Businessman

Buenaventura Marcó del Pont became one of the biggest ship owners in Spain. In 1773, King Charles III of Spain gave him special permission. This allowed his ships to trade between the port of Vigo and the "New World" (the Americas). This was a big deal for his business.

Trading and Wartime Ships

In 1779, he got permission to use his ships to capture enemy trading vessels. This happened during the American Revolutionary War, when Spain was fighting against Britain and its allies like Portugal. His ships were very successful. They brought back valuable goods like salt, oil, leather, and cloth. This made him very wealthy.

Helping Vigo Grow

In 1817, Buenaventura Marcó del Pont was a regidor (a type of town councilor) in Vigo. He helped rebuild the Concatedral de Santa María de Vigo. This important church had been damaged during the Peninsular War, a big conflict in Spain. He also personally gave a statue of the Cristo de la Victoria (Christ of Victory) to the city. This statue is still a very important religious symbol in Vigo today.

His Family

Buenaventura Marcó del Pont married Juana Ángel Díaz y Méndez. They had four sons. Two of his sons became very well-known:

• Francisco Casimiro became the last Spanish governor of Chile.
• Buenaventura Miguel managed his father's business in Buenos Aires. His family became one of the most important and wealthy families in Argentina.

See also

In Spanish: Buenaventura Marcó del Pont para niños