Preceded by Tomas Velez Cachupin Died unknown
unknown | Signature Name Francisco Marin | |
 | ||
Succeeded by Mateo Antonio de Mendoza Spouse(s) Maria Ignacia Martinez de Ugarte Profession Miner, merchant and Captain General and Governor of New Mexico | ||
Francisco Antonio Marín del Valle (born near July 12, 1722 - ??) was Governor and Captain General of New Mexico (now a U.S. state), between 1754 and 1760.
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Early life
Francisco Antonio Marin del Valle was baptized in the Villa del Lumbreras, Murcia, Spain, on July 12, 1722. He was the son of Francisco Marin del Valle and Manuela Saenz de Tejada. His Paternal grandparents were Mateo Marín del Valle and Catalina Fraile. His maternal grandparents were Blas Sáenz de Tejada and María Garcia Baquedano. His brother was Santiago Marín. All them were residents and natives of this village.
When he came to Americas, he settled in the state of Potosí (in modern Bolivia), where he worked in the mines of Charcas. Later he emigrated to Mexico, where became a merchant. Marín del Valle became mayor of Mexico and between 1754 and 1760 was Governor and Captain General of Province of New Mexico.
In 1754, he commissioned Spanish engineer and cartographer Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco to make the new map of El Paso, where he had lived since 1743. His work was the first accurate and detailed map of southern New Mexico, in El Paso (in this time, El Paso was part of New Mexico, joining Texas in the second half of the nineteenth century).
As the Spanish had no churches in New Mexico, Marin del Valle ordered the construction of one church for the 1000 men living there with their wives. He named the church as Nuestra Señora de la Luz (Our Lady of Light). It was basically a military chapel, so later was called "La Castrense" (The Military).
Francisco Marin del Valle formed two brotherhoods: Nuestra Señora de la Luz and the Nuestra Señora de Valvanera.
He was replaced by Mateo Antonio de Mendoza in 1760.
Legacy
The altarpiece of Nuestra Señora de la luz was moved to the Cathedral of Santa Fe in 1859, because the military chapel had fallen to ruin. It was taken in 1939 to the Iglesia de Cristo Rey (Church of Christ the King), where it currently resides.
Personal life
Francisco Antonio Marín del Valle married Maria Ignacia Martinez de Ugarte (who was a wealthy aristocrat), in 1754. While he ruled New Mexico, he bought land facing the Palace of the Governor, located between two settlements. He established a chapel there.