Allegiance Spain | Rank Captain Name Francisco de | |
Birth name Francisco Lopez de Osornio Merlo | ||
Francisco López de Osornio Merlo (1681–1750s) was a Spanish military leader and landowner. He served as Captain of the urban militias of Buenos Aires during the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Biography
Born September 7, 1681 in Buenos Aires, he was the son of Francisco López Osornio (Spanish) and Tomasa Merlo de la Mota (porteña). On September 11, 1701 Francisco López was married in Metropolitan Cathedral, to María Gamiz de las Cuevas Álvarez Lasarte. They had nine children: Domingo, Lorenzo, María, Tomasa, Juana, Justa, Faustina, Clemente and Pascual. In 1720s López de Osornio was appointed Alférez real, in charge of the military fort of Barragán, place where had ordered the construction of the first chapel.
Francisco López de Osornio was Captain of militia. These militias were engaged in protecting livestock and town from attacks by Indians. He, along with his brothers, inherited large acres of land, and they were one of the most powerful families in the 18th century during the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.