Nicolás del Campo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolás del Campo
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata | |
| In office March 7, 1784 – December 4, 1789 |
|
| Monarch | Charles III of Spain Charles IV of Spain |
| Preceded by | Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo |
| Succeeded by | Nicolás de Arredondo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 12, 1725 Seville, Spain |
| Died | February 17, 1803 (aged 77) Madrid, Spain |
| Occupation | Military |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Spanish Empire |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
Nicolás Francisco Cristóbal del Campo, Marquis of Loreto (born March 12, 1725 – died February 17, 1803) was an important Spanish leader. He was a politician and a soldier. He worked in many places in the Spanish colonies in America. His main work was in the area known as the River Plate.
Contents
Who Was Nicolás del Campo?
Nicolás del Campo was born in Seville, Spain. His father was Nicolás Ignacio del Campo y Cuesta. His mother was Josefa Arcadia Rodríguez. His family name, del Campo, came from an older name, van der Velde. This shows his family had roots in Flanders, a region in Europe.
Early Life and Military Career
Nicolás del Campo was part of a group in Seville called the Economic Society of Friends of the Country. This group worked to improve the economy. Later, he joined the Spanish Army. He became a high-ranking officer, a brigadier general.
He fought in important wars for Spain. These included the Spanish invasion of Portugal in 1762. He also took part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar in 1779.
Becoming Viceroy of Río de la Plata
The Marquis of Loreto was chosen for a very important job. He became the Viceroy of the Río de la Plata. A viceroy was like a governor. They ruled a colony for the king of Spain. He started this role on March 7, 1784. He finished on December 4, 1789. He took over from Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo.
Key Actions as Viceroy
Like many viceroys, Nicolás del Campo was a military officer. He did not have much political experience in Spanish America before coming to Buenos Aires. But he turned out to be a very good leader. He was honest and capable.
Improving Government and Regions
In 1785, he started to make the Real Audiencia de Buenos Aires better. This was a high court and government body. His predecessor had created it in 1783. He also set up a new system for the River Plate region. He divided it into eight areas called Intendancies. This changed how local mayors worked with the viceroy.
Four of these Intendancies were in Upper Peru. These were La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, and Charcas. Paraguay was also one. The other three were:
- Buenos Aires and the area south to Patagonia
- Córdoba
- Salta, which included the present-day Argentine Northwest
Boosting the Economy and Trade
Nicolás del Campo worked hard to help the economy grow. He supported farming and cattle raising. He looked for new ways to get good quality salt cheaply. This salt was important for preserving meat. Preserved meat could then be sold to other countries.
He also made the port better. He fought against contraband, which is illegal trade. He also brought in new ways for people to live peacefully. He encouraged trade with the native people.
Helping Families and Workers
He also cared for the families of soldiers. He gave money to widows and orphans of Navy personnel. This was called a bereavement benefit. In 1785, he created a system for this. It was the first pension system in what is now Argentina. A pension system helps people get money after they retire or if they are unable to work.
Legacy and Recognition
Today, a street in Belgrano, a part of Buenos Aires, is named in his honor. It is called Virrey Loreto Street.
