Preceded by Diego de Vargas | ||
Succeeded by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés Preceded by Antonio Valverde y Cosío Succeeded by Antonio Valverde y Cosío Profession Captain General, governor and mayor Died 5 May 1724, New Mexico, United States | ||
Juan Páez Hurtado (born near December 22, 1668 – May 5, 1724) was a Spanish official. He was Captain General, Governor and Mayor of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.
Contents
Early life
Hurtado was born in Villafranca de las Marismas, near Seville (Andalusia, Spain). He was baptized in the parish of Santa María la Blanca on December 22, 1668. He was born to a humble family. When he was a teenager he enlisted in the Spanish Royal Army as a cape, in Seville.
Career
He attained the General and Sergeant grades. Eventually, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean heading to Mexican territory. He participated in many battles.
In Michoacán (in the present Mexico), he began his military career under Mayor Diego de Vargas. Hurtado later moved to New Mexico. After Vargas' death he became senior Captain General and Governor of New Mexico. In addition, between 1704 and 1705 and 1716 and 1717 Hurtado was twice Mayor of the capital Santa Fe.
Under his governance, The Faraones Apaches stole the horses and mules of the Spanish. In 1614, Hurtado was assigned to punish this tribe. He led an unsuccessful expedition to search for them. He occupied the second tier of colonial officers in New Mexico.
Personal life
In Michoacán he married Pascuala López Vera, with whom he had a daughter in 1688.
He died on May 5, 1724. He is buried under the "Altar of the Basilica of Santa María, la conquistadora" (In English: Saint Mary, the Conqueror), Patroness of New Mexico.