Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo
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| 63rd Governor-General of the Philippines | |
| In office December 23, 1830 – March 1, 1835 |
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| Monarch | Ferdinand VII of Spain |
| Preceded by | Mariano Ricafort Palacín y Abarca |
| Succeeded by | Gabriel de Torres |
| Lieutenant Commander (Segundo Cabo) of the Philippines |
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| In office 1826–1830 |
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| Succeeded by | Gabriel de Torres |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo
April 13, 1772 Cádiz, Spain |
| Died | January 6, 1836 (aged 63) Madrid, Spain |
| Signature |  |
Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo (born April 13, 1772 – died January 6, 1836) was an important Spanish leader. He was born in Cádiz, Spain. From December 23, 1830, to March 1, 1835, he served as the governor-general of the Philippines.
He is remembered as one of the best leaders of the Philippines. People admired him for his skills, honesty, and dedication to helping the public. Enrile worked hard to build new roads and improve ways for people to communicate. This helped connect different parts of the islands, especially inland areas with coastal provinces.
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Early Life and Career
Pasqual Enrile was born in Cádiz, Spain, on April 13, 1772. He joined the Marine Guard in Ferrol, Galicia, when he was just 16 years old in 1788. He spent 23 years serving in the Royal Navy. During this time, he moved up through the ranks. By 1809, he became a captain of a frigate, which is a type of warship.
In 1826, he was given an important job in the Spanish East Indies. He became the segundo cabo, which means he was the commander of the army or a lieutenant-commander. Then, on December 23, 1830, he was appointed the Governor-General of the islands.
In 1826, the Spanish government decided to bring back the naval office in Manila. This office worked separately from the governor-general. Pasqual Enrile was chosen to lead it. He worked to improve all parts of the navy. This included the forces that fought against pirates. He was very successful in stopping many pirate attacks.
Under his command, several new warships and other vessels were built. One of these ships was used for 40 years! He also made sure the naval office had power across all the islands. He created new port captains for important places like Iloilo, Capiz, Cebu, and Pangasinan.
Governor-General of the Philippines
As governor, Pasqual Enrile was very dedicated and skilled. He personally traveled to the northern parts of Luzon island. He went with his relative, José Maria Peñaranda, who was a military engineer. They explored the mountains and met with local groups like the Igorot people between 1831 and 1832.
After these trips, he explored and surveyed many other parts of Luzon. He created detailed travel plans, maps, and drawings. These were very useful for building new roads and bridges. He also set up postal routes. This made it easier for people to travel and communicate between areas that were once hard to reach.
He explored and mapped the rivers and waterways in Pangasinan province. A new highway was built in Pampanga province. This road was safe from floods from Lake Canarem near Victoria, Tarlac province. He also explored Luzon from east to west. This helped connect the island's coasts with its rich inner plains.
Enrile also created the Guia de Forasteros, which means "Guide for Strangers" to the Philippines. This helpful guide was first published in 1834.
During his time as governor, many useful laws were passed, and the islands became more successful. A special court for business, called the royal tribunal of commerce, was started in Manila on January 1, 1834. The Royal Company of the Philippines (Real Compañía de Filipinas), a trading company, was closed down in 1834. Even though this company didn't make much money, it helped grow farming in the Philippines between 1790 and 1820.
Enrile encouraged more farmers to grow tobacco. He made sure that fair weights and measures were used for trade. He also tried to fix problems caused by bad money on the islands. The Economic Society of Friends of the Country helped farming grow during Enrile's time. They provided reports, ideas, and support.
He suggested building a lighthouse on Corregidor Island. This island is at the entrance to Manila Bay, where the main trading port of Manila is located. The plan was approved in 1835, but the lighthouse wasn't finished until 1853. Enrile also made the navy stronger to fight pirates. He successfully drove them away from the coasts of the Visayas islands.
On February 2, 1835, news arrived from Spain. It said that the country would go back to a constitutional government. This meant that the Cortes, a type of parliament, would be called. Enrile resigned from his position on March 1, 1835. He returned to Spain soon after. He passed away in Madrid on January 6, 1836, at the age of 60.
His Lasting Impact
A Spanish historian named Jose Montero y Vidal said that Pasqual Enrile was one of the smartest and hardest-working leaders the Philippines ever had. He believed that the country owed many important improvements to Enrile. These included the great highways of Luzon. These roads made it much easier for provinces to connect and communicate. They also helped set up postal routes across the islands.
Enrile also brought scientific and organized ways of doing things to the country's government. This helped improve public well-being and greatly increased the country's wealth. Farming, trade, and shipping also benefited from his smart leadership. His time as governor helped these important parts of the economy grow quickly. This was thanks to the actions he took to help these industries develop naturally.
After his time as governor, Enrile sailed back to Spain. Like other Spanish governors who served overseas, he was seen as a hero in Spain. The town of Enrile, Cagayan in the Philippines was named after him to honor his contributions.
See also
In Spanish: Pascual Enrile y Alcedo para niños
