See Manila Term ended January 30, 1764 Name Manuel del | Installed July 22, 1759 Successor Sancho de Santa Justa | |
 | ||
Predecessor Pedro Jose Manuel Martinez, O.F.M. Consecration January 29, 1748
by Manuel Jose Rubio y Salinas | ||
Manuel Antonio Rojo del Rio y Vieyra (September 24, 1708 – January 30, 1764) was a Mexican (originally Spanish Criollo) friar who served as the 16th Archbishop of Manila and was Governor-General of the Philippines at the commencement of the 1762–1764 British occupation of the Philippines.
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Early life
Rojo del Rio was born in Tula, Mexico on September 24, 1708. On 1758, he was consecrated archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila.
On May 31, 1759, the death of Governor-General Pedro Manuel de Arandia left the position vacant. Bishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta of the Archdiocese of Cebu succeeded him as well as becoming acting Archbishop of Manila. On 22 July 1759, Rojo del Rio was enthroned as Archbishop of Manila. In 1761, a royal decree from Spain ruled that Rojo del Rio replace Ezpeleta to become Governor-General.
Del Rio died in office on 20 January 1764.
Governorship
"Albeit he had the gift of knowledge, he had no judgment, especially in matter military, to which he was hostile and negative, since this was an area outside his profession and character." This was to prove fatal during the Battle of Manila (1762).