Pedro Mendinueta y Múzquiz facts for kids

Pedro Mendinueta y Múzquiz (born June 7, 1736, in Elizondo, Navarre – died 1825) was a Spanish general and a colonial leader. He served as the viceroy of New Granada (which is now mostly Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela) from 1797 to 1803. He was a respected knight of the Order of Santiago and received a high honor called the Gran Cruz of Carlos III.

Early Life and Military Career

Pedro Mendinueta started his military journey in 1756 as a young soldier. His first trip to America was in 1763. There, he helped organize local armies in Cuba and Puerto Rico. He returned to the New World in 1782 and was part of the army in Havana in 1783.

The next year, he went to New Spain (which is now Mexico). He helped set up local and city armies there. He returned to Spain in 1789. Mendinueta fought in the War of the Pyrenees against France from 1793 to 1795. During a battle in 1794, his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) fought against French troops.

Leading New Granada as Viceroy

On January 1, 1796, Pedro Mendinueta was chosen to be the new viceroy of New Granada. He officially took over the job on January 2, 1797, in Cartagena de Indias. He arrived in the capital city of Santa Fe on March 18, 1797.

Improving the Colony

During his time as viceroy, Mendinueta made many improvements. He brought water to the western part of Santa Fe from the Río del Arzobispo river. He also made it easier to travel between Santa Fe and other northern cities like Tunja, Vélez, and Carare by improving roads.

Supporting Science and Education

Mendinueta was a big supporter of science. In July 1801, he welcomed two famous naturalists, Baron Alexander von Humboldt from Germany and Aimé Bonpland from France. They were traveling to study the plants, animals, and geography of the Spanish lands in America. They also wanted to create a map of South America north of the Amazon River. Mendinueta really wanted a better map of the viceroyalty because he believed it was important for many of his plans.

He also helped José Celestino Mutis get money to build an astronomical observatory. This observatory was built between 1802 and 1803. Mendinueta even asked the Spanish court to send special instruments for it. He also ordered a count of the population, which was the fourth one done in the area.

Mendinueta appointed Doctor Miguel de Isla to teach medicine. Dr. Isla started teaching about the human body and doing dissections (studying bodies) at the Hospital San Juan. This was a new and important way to teach medicine in the viceroyalty. Mendinueta also asked José Celestino Mutis to reorganize the entire medical school. This plan was approved in 1804.

Dealing with Challenges

Mendinueta faced some challenges during his time. There was a rebellion of French people of African descent in Cartagena. They tried to harm the city's governor. There were also rebellions by native people in Túquerres and Guaitarilla. These groups rebelled because they felt pressured by taxes. The rebels even killed the governor and the tax collector. Mendinueta also worked to bring other native tribes under Spanish rule and organized the government of the Llanos region.

He tried to set up new church areas (bishoprics) in places like Santa Fe de Antioquia and Vélez, but his ideas did not go through. He also noticed that areas once managed by the Jesuits (a religious group) had not improved much since the Jesuits were asked to leave in 1767. He got along well with the Church but not always with the Audiencia, which was a high court.

Health and Public Welfare

Mendinueta cared about public health. He tried to get more medicines for poor people. He also reorganized the Hospital San Juan de Dios in Bogotá. He made sure the hospital was checked every month to ensure poor patients were getting good care. He showed similar interest in other hospitals. He also started a special hospital for people with contagious diseases in Bogotá. In 1801, he took successful steps to prevent a new outbreak of smallpox.

Economic Issues and Smuggling

Mendinueta was known as a hard worker with modern ideas. He had many plans to make the colony better, but he could not do everything he wanted. Recent wars with Britain and France had hurt the economy. This also led to a lot of smuggling (illegal trade). The government did not have enough money to support all his ideas. Like the viceroy before him, he tried hard to stop smuggling, but it was very difficult.

He supported the creation of the Sociedad Patriótica de Amigos del País (Patriotic Society of Friends of the Country). A newspaper called El Correo Curioso also started publishing during his term. Antonio Nariño, a person who later became important for Colombian independence, secretly returned to the colony. Mendinueta had him arrested in 1797, even though he had promised safety.

Return to Spain

After his time as viceroy ended, Pedro Mendinueta went back to Spain on September 22, 1803. In 1807, he was given important roles, including chief inspector of military services. He also became a member of the Supreme Council of War and an advisor to the state. During the French invasion of Spain, he was captured. In 1814, King Ferdinand VII made him the head of the Supreme Council of War. Mendinueta retired in 1822 and passed away in 1825.

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Mendinueta para niños