José Antonio Raón y Gutiérrez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Antonio Raón y Gutiérrez
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|---|---|
| 50th Governor-General of the Philippines | |
| In office 6 July 1765 – July 1770 |
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| Preceded by | Francisco Javier de la Torre |
| Succeeded by | Simón de Anda y Salazar |
| Royal Governor of Panama (interim) | |
| In office 1761–1762 |
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| Preceded by | Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga |
| Succeeded by | José de Arana y Górnica |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1700 Calahorra, La Rioja Spain |
| Died | 4 January 1773 Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
| Spouse | Josefa Mondragón |
| Children | José Raón Josefa Delgado y Amate |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spain |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
José Antonio Raón y Gutiérrez (born around 1700 – died January 4, 1773) was a Spanish general. He held important roles in the Spanish colonies. He served as the temporary leader of Panama. Later, he became the 50th Governor-General of the Philippines. People remembered him as a skilled leader. However, some also thought he might have been involved in dishonest dealings.
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Early Life and Career
Not much is known about José Antonio Raón y Gutiérrez's early life. He was born in Calahorra, Spain, around the year 1700. He was married to Josefa Mondragon. They had two children, a son named José Raón and a daughter named Josefa Delgado y Amate.
Before becoming a governor, he was a brigadier general. This is a high rank in the Spanish Army. In 1761, he was chosen to be the temporary Royal Governor of Panama. This was an important first appointment made by King Charles III of Spain.
Governor-General of the Philippines
On July 6, 1765, Raón arrived in the Philippines. A ship called the Buen Consejo arrived at the same time. This ship had traveled around the Cape of Good Hope. It was the first Spanish ship to use this route since 1652.
Expelling the Jesuits
One of Raón's big tasks was to remove the Jesuits from the Philippines. This was ordered by King Charles III of Spain in 1767. The King's order arrived in the Philippines in 1768. This delay gave the Jesuit priests time. They were able to hide their belongings and destroy important papers. These items were supposed to be taken by the government. Some people said that Raón warned the Jesuits beforehand. They believed he did this in exchange for a lot of money.
The first group of 64 Jesuits left Manila on May 17, 1768. Between 1769 and 1771, all Jesuits in the Philippines were sent to Spain. From Spain, they were then sent to Italy. Because there were fewer Jesuits, Spain needed new teachers. They also wanted to improve their education system. In the Philippines, this meant that every village got a school and a teacher. These changes helped more children get a basic education.
Other Important Actions
Raón also tried to bring peace to the islands. He offered a pardon to Francisco Dagohoy. Dagohoy was leading a long rebellion in Bohol since 1744. However, Dagohoy turned down the offer of peace.
The British invasion of Manila had encouraged Moro raiders. These raiders attacked Mariveles, Bataan, near Manila Bay. The British had put Sultan Azim ud-Din I of Sulu back in power. The attack was part of the sultan's revenge against the Spaniards. Raón launched a military campaign to stop these raiders. But he faced challenges due to a lack of resources.
The King also ordered that Chinese people be sent away in 1766. This was because some Chinese had helped the British during the invasion. However, Raón did not fully carry out this order. Chinese and other foreign ships still came to Manila Bay. A French astronomer, Guillaume Le Gentil, visited the Philippines in 1766. He noticed that Raón received "gifts" from ship captains. Raón even showed these gifts to the astronomer. This made people think that there was more dishonesty during Raón's time as governor.
During Le Gentil's visit in 1766, a strong storm hit Manila. Raón wrote that this storm "brought great misery to the people."
Later Years and Death
In 1770, Simón de Anda y Salazar was sent to take over Raón's position. Anda arrived in July of that year. He became the new Governor-General of the Philippines. One of Anda's first actions was to investigate Raón. This investigation also included three of Raón's close associates. These were Francisco Henriquez de Villacorta, Domingo Blas de Basaraz, and Juan Antonio Cosio. The investigation lasted for almost three years. However, Raón died in Manila on January 4, 1773, before it could be finished. He was never found guilty.
A street in Manila was named Raón Street to honor him. Later, it was renamed Gonzalo Puyat Street. This new name honors a Filipino businessman.
See also
In Spanish: José Antonio Raón Gutiérrez para niños
