José de Escandón, 1st Count of Sierra Gorda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José de Escandón y Helguera, 1st Count of Sierra Gorda
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| Born | May 19, 1700 |
| Died | September 10, 1770 (aged 70) |
| Nationality |  Spanish |
| Occupation | Noble, soldier & politician |
José de Escandón y Helguera, also known as the Count of Sierra Gorda, was an important Spanish soldier and leader. He was born on May 19, 1700, in Soto de la Marina, Spain, and passed away on September 10, 1770, in New Spain (which is now Mexico). He is famous for founding and becoming the first governor of a large colony called Nuevo Santander. This area stretched from the Pánuco River in what is now Tamaulipas, Mexico, all the way to the Guadalupe River in Texas, USA.
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Early Military Career in New Spain
José de Escandón was one of three sons. He moved to New Spain when he was a child in 1715. He joined the cavalry in the city of Mérida as a young soldier. There, he bravely fought against the English. Because of his courage, he was promoted to lieutenant and sent to Querétaro. In Querétaro, he fought in battles against the Apache people. He learned to treat different groups of people with both kindness and firmness, depending on the situation.
In 1727, he helped bring peace to the Pames people who had rebelled in Celaya. For this, he was promoted to sergeant major. He continued to show his leadership by calming down rebellions at mines in Guanajuato in 1732 and in Irapuato the next year. In 1734, he helped bring peace to about 10,000 people in San Miguel el Grande. These achievements led to his promotion to colonel. He then became an assistant to the captain general of the Sierra Gorda region.
In 1742, Escandón was moved to Veracruz because the English were seen as a threat there. However, he soon received orders to return to Tehuacán. In 1749, he helped calm down unrest in Querétaro. This unrest happened because of a famine that followed a long dry period. He also visited missions in the Sierra Gorda several times, making improvements to how they were managed. He also fought against the Tamaulipeco people who were causing problems in the Nuevo León region.
Founding Nuevo Santander
In the late 1740s, New Spain faced challenges from the French and English along the Gulf coast. To protect their territory, Spanish leaders decided to fully take control of the Gulf coast area, especially what is now Tamaulipas and Texas. A special meeting was held from May 8 to May 13, 1748, to discuss this important project. Many officers presented their ideas, but José de Escandón's plan was chosen as the best and most complete.
Escandón had already funded an exploration trip to the region. This helped him choose the best places for new settlements. He suggested naming the new colony Nuevo Santander. He also proposed a budget of 115,000 pesos for the expedition, plus 500 pesos for each colonist. Once his plan was approved, it was advertised in several cities like Querétaro and San Luis Potosí. Many people quickly volunteered to become colonists in the new territory.
Between December 25, 1748, when the town of Llera was founded, and 1755, Escandón established many new places. He founded over twenty towns or villages and several missions. Some of these included Santander, Soto la Marina, Güemes, Camargo, Reynosa, Mier, and Revilla, all located south of the Rio Grande. He also founded Laredo and the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores hacienda north of the Rio Grande. Because of his efforts, Escandón is sometimes called the "father of the lower Rio Grande Valley."
Leading Nuevo Santander
José de Escandón was known for his strong leadership and determination. He was sometimes called the Exterminator of the Pames of Querétaro because of his firm actions. During his time as governor of Nuevo Santander, he faced various challenges and criticisms. He was accused of certain actions related to the local people and trade. However, records show that after he left office, there were more difficulties for the local populations than during his 22 years of leadership.
He also faced opposition from some groups, including certain religious orders and French settlers in the region.
Escandón became very wealthy during his time in Querétaro, San Miguel, and Nuevo Santander. He received large land grants from the viceroys, who were like governors of New Spain. He owned a frigate, which is a type of ship, to transport goods. He shipped livestock and other products from his lands, as well as items he bought from the colonists, from the port of Soto la Marina to Veracruz.
He was seen as one of the most important leaders in New Spain during the 1700s. He was even considered by some to be more effective than many viceroys. He helped each settlement decide what crops to grow and what activities to focus on. He encouraged irrigation and built important roads and bridges. He built a grand home in Santander, the capital of the colony, which was known as the Palace of the Count. He also built the church in Santander and a reservoir to provide drinking water. He brought skilled workers like masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths to the colony. He also set up kilns, sugar mills, and flour mills.
To recognize his hard work and service, the Spanish Crown gave him the special title of conde de Sierra Gorda. This title came with certain tax exemptions, meaning he didn't have to pay some duties that other noblemen did.
José de Escandón passed away in 1770, likely on September 10, in Querétaro or Mexico City. Five years after his death, he was cleared of the legal accusations against him, and his reputation was restored. His title passed to his oldest son, Manuel. When Manuel died without children, José's second son, Mariano, became the count.
Today, Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, has a statue honoring him, built in 1975. There are also streets named after him in Ciudad Victoria and Querétaro. In Laredo, Texas, a music festival called the Festival de Música José de Escandón is held every November. There is also a statue dedicated to him in Alice, Texas. Another statue was placed at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas, in 2014.
See also
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of José de Escandón
