Pedro Romero de Terreros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Romero de Terreros
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| Born |
Pedro Romero de Terreros
June 28, 1710 |
| Died | 1781 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Count of Regla, magnate and philanthropist |
Pedro Romero de Terreros (born 1710, died 1781) was a very rich and generous person in Mexico during the 1700s. He became the first Count of Regla. He made his money from mining and used a lot of it to help others.
Contents
Pedro Romero de Terreros: A Life of Riches and Giving
Early Life in Spain
Pedro Romero de Terreros was born in Cortegana, Spain, on June 28, 1710. He was one of six children. His parents did not have much land or money. However, they were related to the richest families in their town.
Pedro and his brothers all learned to read and write. We don't know exactly how they were taught. Pedro was very smart. His parents first thought he might become a priest.
Moving to Mexico
Pedro likely started working as a clerk in Spain. This job did not pay much, and it was hard to get promoted. As a younger son, Pedro needed to find his own way. Many of his relatives had already moved to the New World (which is now America). They had started successful businesses there.
Around 1730, Pedro traveled to Mexico. He may have gone to help with his older brother's affairs after his brother passed away. But Pedro decided to stay and help his uncle, Juan Vázquez Terreros. When he arrived, he used the title "Don." This was a special title for important people.
Taking Over the Family Business
When Pedro arrived, he found out his uncle was almost out of money. Instead of being trained, Pedro was quickly given full control of his uncle's businesses. His uncle died in 1735. Pedro then managed his uncle's estate.
His uncle's will said that Pedro would get one-third of any future business profits. The rest would go to his uncle's children. His uncle praised Pedro for being active, accurate, and good at his work. By 1747, Pedro had settled the estate. He gave the money from selling the businesses to his uncle's children.
Becoming a Mining Magnate
Pedro Romero de Terreros was very good at making money. He quickly made the businesses profitable again. In 1741, he started investing in silver mines. These mines were in Pachuca and Mineral del Monte. He worked with his business partner, Jose Alejandro Bustamante.
As Pedro became richer, his social standing grew. He served as the alcalde (a type of mayor) of Querétaro. In 1752, he was given an honorary knighthood. This was a special honor from the King of Spain, Ferdinand VI. The King even let Pedro become a knight in Mexico, so he did not have to travel back to Spain.
Family Life
On June 29, 1756, Pedro married María Antonia de Trebuesto y Dávalos. She was a noblewoman from a family that had lived in Mexico for over 150 years. Her family was having money problems, so she did not bring a dowry (money or property given by the bride's family).
Pedro promised to give her 50,000 pesos if he died before her. As a wedding gift, he gave her many jewels. This included two dresses covered in diamonds. He also paid for several young women to join convents. The wedding party lasted two days. It cost a lot of money, more than Pedro later paid for his home in Mexico City. The Archbishop of Mexico, Manuel Rubio y Salinas, led the ceremony. Pedro and María Antonia had nine children. María Antonia passed away in 1766 after childbirth.
Pedro worked hard to become a member of the nobility. His wish was granted in 1768. He was named the first Count of Regla. His full title was Conde de Santa María de Regla.
Helping Others: Charity and Missions
Pedro Romero de Terreros was a big supporter of the Franciscan order in Mexico. This is a group of Catholic friars. From 1745 to 1781, he gave a lot of money to their seminaries (schools for priests). He also gave money to a monastery in Pachuca.
Pedro wanted to help establish a mission for the Lipan Apache tribe in Spanish Texas. He offered to pay for the start of this mission. He agreed to give 150,000 pesos. This money would support twenty missionaries for three years. It would also buy all the church items and other things they needed.
In return, he asked that the missionaries come from specific schools. He also asked that his cousin, Father Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, be in charge of the mission. The government would pay for the mission after three years. They would also send soldiers to protect the missionaries.
Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá was built in 1757. Sadly, the mission was destroyed the next year. Comanche people attacked it because the Spanish had become friends with the Apache, who were the Comanche's enemies. Father Terreros, Pedro's cousin, was killed in the attack.
Besides helping the Church, Pedro also gave money to the government. He paid for a battleship for the Spanish navy.
Between 1774 and 1777, Pedro started the Monte de Piedad. This was a special place that gave loans to poor people. They could get loans without interest or with very low interest. It was like a charitable pawnshop.
Art and History
In 1762, Pedro asked for a painting to be made. It was to honor his cousin who died at the San Sabá mission. The painting is called The Destruction of Mission San Sabá in the Province of Texas and the Martyrdom of the Fathers Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, Joseph Santiesteban.
This painting is important because it is one of the earliest known paintings to show a real historical event in Texas. It is also one of the few paintings from Mexico in the 1700s that tried to show a current event. The painting stayed with the Terreros family for 200 years.
His Lasting Legacy
From 1750 onwards, Pedro Romero de Terreros kept almost every letter he received. He also saved most of his business records. His family kept these records safe. Some of these important papers are now at Washington State University. The rest are still with his family. Historians say that no other important person from the 1700s has such complete records.
Many books have been written about Pedro. His great-grandson wrote a book about him in 1858. Later, in 1943, another family member wrote a modern biography. Pedro's life has been studied many times, especially how he affected workers in Mexico.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Romero de Terreros para niños
