Tomás Felipe de Winthuisen

Career

He was born in the early eighteenth century, but little is known about his life. He was appointed governor of the Province of Texas in 1741, to replace to Prudencio de Orobio y Basterra. During his administration, San Antonio continued to be attacked by Apaches. He received reports of emergency in the north due to Comanche attacks.

He established a recovery program to repair the ruins of the prison. He paid special attention to Presidio Los Adaes, adding five new barracks, improving the farms and encouraging the growth of the community. Also, unlike most governors, Winthuisen did not permit (or participate in) illegal trade with the French. He left government in 1743, replaced by Justo Boneo y Morales.

He wrote a 1744 report that recommended the reduction of the garrison at Los Adaes, going from 60 to 40 soldiers, explaining that this would reduce opportunities for illicit trade. He believed that not even 600 Spanish soldiers might cope with the French and their Amerindian allies who attacked Los Adaes. The former governor Virto de Vera decided to build a Presidio with a large square with bastions at each corner. However, later, Tomas Felipe de Winthuisen traveled the region in 1744 and reported that a presidio as such did not exist, “for only its poorly formed houses make up square plaza, without any wall or stockade”. One of these small houses served as the first home (and office) of the Captain of the Presidio.