Nationality Spanish Profession Military Name Juan de | Occupation Government Religion Catholicism | |
Spouse(s) Maria Eugenia Sanchez Gallanos Died 1766, Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
Juan Miguel de Esparza (1712–1766) was a Spanish nobleman, alcalde, regidor and alferez real of Buenos Aires during the Viceroyalty of Peru.
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Personal life
Born in 1712 Buenos Aires, to Mayor Miguel Jeronimo Esparza and Antonia, daughter of Antonio Cabral de Melo and Leonor de Morales. He was married to her cousin Maria Eugenia Sanchez, daughter of Captain Francisco Sanchez and Sebastiana Zenarro, (sister of the Third Order of Saint Francis), daughter of Cap. Juan de Zenarro (born in Pasaia, Gipuzkoa) and Ines Esparza.
Maria Eugenia Sanchez was great granddaughter of Pedro Sanchez Rendon and Catalina Tapia Fernandez Aguero Guillen.
Career
His first public office was as delegate of the Buenos Aires Cabildo in the 1738 census in the City. In 1750 Juan Miguel Esparza was council alderman. On January 10, 1754, he was appointed attorney general. In 1758 was member of the Brotherhood of Charity. In 1759 Esparza served as treasurer in the city, a position he occupied until 1763. In 1764 Esparza was elected Alcalde of Buenos Aires.
In 1752, due to Indian populations that attacked Spanish settlements, in the northwest region of the province of Buenos Aires, Juan Miguel de Esparza was commissioned to lead "La Valerosa" a militia of the Regiment of Blandengues of the Frontier, under command Captain Jose de Zarate. The Regidor Juan de Lezica (Spanish nobleman) had been in charge of the "La Atrevida", serving in the area of Lobos. The mission of border militias were to pursue the Indians rebel and protect civilians and their families. These Cavalry patrols were armed with carabine and sabre. Esparza was the responsible for the defense in the area of Lujan, place continuously attacked by indians raids.