| Juan de Ayala y Escobar | |
|---|---|
| 33ºRoyal Governor of La Florida | |
| In office 1716–1718 |
|
| Preceded by | Pedro de Olivera y Fulana |
| Succeeded by | Antonio de Benavides |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1637 Cuba. |
| Died | 1727 Cuba |
| Profession | Politician and soldier |
Juan de Ayala Escobar (1637–1727) was a prominent Spanish soldier and politician who ruled Florida between 1716 and 1718. Juan de Ayala Escobar was born in Cuba in 1637. Ayala spent his early adult life serving aboard merchand vessels in the Caribbean, and he familiarized himself with its trade routes, harbors, and channels.
At the age of forty Ayala married the daughter of the adjutant to the sergeant major of the La Habana presidio and decided upon a career in the military.[1] In 1677, he was named captain of infantry [2] and, later, in 1683 he was assigned to the presidio of Saint Augustine where he served as lieutenant of the Castillo with the corresponding rank of capitain "reformado" (an honorary rank without command of troops). In the early eighteenth century, he was promoted to sergeant of the presidio of Saint Augustine, Florida. In the following years, Ayala continued to rise in Professions. Thus, after continuously trying to get the government of Florida, in 1716 he was appointed acting governor of that place. However, from this moment on, his luck begins to drop. In 1718 he will be accused of contraband what forcing him to leave the government in Florida. A few years later he was arrested and imprisoned, after which he was sent to Cuba by the new governor, Antonio de Benavides, due, at least, Cuba was ruled Florida at the time. In 1727, before his trial was dismissed, he died, after forty years of exercising the military and political Professions.[1]