| Hugh O'Conor | |
|---|---|
Hugh O'Conor |
|
| Born | 1732 Ireland |
| Died | 1779 Yucatan |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Service/branch | Spanish Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
Hugh O'Conor by birth or Hugo Oconor by Spain was a military governor of northern Mexico, he was appointed by the Spanish viceroy of New Spain in 1767. It is recorded that O'Conor rode well over 10,000 miles on horseback in the course of conducting his duties. O'Conor was called "The Red Captain" by the Apache, both for the color of his hair and his formidable military leadership.
O'Conor is the founding father of the city of Tucson, Arizona having authorized the construction of a military fort in that location in 1775. In 1777, O'Conor requested, due to his failing health, to be transferred to the Yucatan Peninsula, whereupon he was promoted to brigadier general and appointed Governor of Yucatan Peninsula. He served there until his death in 1779.
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O´connor was born in 1732 in Irland, but raised in Spain. In his youth he joined the regiment of Volunteers of Aragon, eventually acquiring the title of Major. During his years in the military, sent him as military to Cuba and Mexico City. went to Texas to investigate some problems that had developed around San Agustín de Ahumada Presidio, and that caused the dispute between Governor Ángel de Martos y Navarrete and Rafael Martínez Pacheco (future governor of Texas). It was at this time that he obtained the title of inspector general of the Provincias Internas (general inspector of the Interior Provinces). Later, in 1767, he was appointed governor of Texas, in replacement of Martos and Navarrete. When he took office in the province, found that one of its major cities, San Antonio, was so shattered by the frequent attacks of several Indian tribes against the city. Therefore, the new governor sent a garrison at Los Adaes of protecting the city. In keeping with the military in 1771 he become in command of the Chihuahua frontier and in January 20, 1773, he was appointed commandant inspector of presidios, under the office of Coronel. He and Governor Juan María Vicencio de Ripperdá rejected the petition of Gil Antonio Ibarvo that the settlers could to return to their homes original if they wanted. To strengthen the protection of Nueva Vizcaya, Coahuila, Sonora, Mexico have decided to expel the Apaches in the regions, for which make war against this peoples between 1775 and 1776, killing a large number of Apache, so Apache who survived fled to more western areas. in 1777, he suffered a serious illness and was sent to Yucatan, with the title of governor and captain general of the Mexican province, because this was a lesser charge to which he usually occupied. He died on March 8, 1779 at Quinta de Miraflores, east of Merida, Yucatan.[1]
An order relating to the period read:
| San Xavier del Bac.
August 20, 1775 "I, Hugo Oconor, knight of the order of Calatrava, colonel of infantry in His Majesty's armies and commandant inspector of the frontier posts of New Spain Certify that having conducted the exploration prescribed in Article three of the New Royal Regulation of Presidios issued by His Majesty on the tenth of September 1772 for the moving of the company of San Ignacio de Tubac in the Province of Sonora, I selected and marked out in the presence of Father Francisco Garces and Lieutenant Juan de Carmona a place known as San Agustin del Tucson as the new site of the Presidio. It is situated at a distance of eighteen leagues from Tubac, fulfills the requirements of water, pasture, and wood and effectively closes the Apache frontier. The designation of the New Presidio becomes official with the signatures of myself, Father Francisco Garces, and Lieutenant Juan de Carmona, at this mission of San Xavier del Bac, on this twentieth day of August of the year 1775." Hugo Oconor |