Fernando Pérez de Almazán

Fernando Pérez de Almazán (? – ?) was an Spanish emissary and Governor of Texas (1722–1727)

Biography

Fernando Perez de Almazan was born in the early eighteenth century, but their place of birth is unknown. In the Aguayo expedition he became emissary of the French commander in the city of Texas Natchitoches, when France had the intention to invade the area. Later, in 1722, he was appointed governor of Texas, after the Marquis of Aguayo, José de Azlor y Virto de Vera in 1720 proposed to Coahuila and Texas have their different governments. Pérez de Almazán established his capital at Los Adaes.^[1]

In 1721, Fernando Perez de Almazan and Captain Gabriel Costales came to Natchitoches to meet with the commander of the French fort of the site and explain his intention to occupy the Adaes, which was formerly Spanish, then usurped by the French and, later, abandoned by the latter. So they could take back the area and create a best fortress than the previous to protect the site of new invasions, outside the boundaries French. After a discussion between the commander French and Spanish major representatives, they decided that they could restore and fortify the border wherever they saw fit. They decided estabecer the prison near Natchitoches.^[2] In 1724, East Texas suffered significant crop losses which prompted him to seek supplies in San Antonio. Because the river into the city was difficult to navigate, he put rafts in the river crossings. After collecting supplies in 1725 Gov. sick so had to stay in San Antonio for a while and appoint to Captain Melchor de Mediavilla y Azcona as lieutenant governor of Adaes. However, between 1727 and 1729, Pérez de Almazán health worsened and he was forced to resign, making to Mediavilla y Azcona the new governor of Texas. In 1729, he was in Mexico City. While this ruling, Pedro de Rivera y Villalón inspected the presidios of Texas and he got rid of some work of Aguayo which involves the Presidios near Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, closing Acuña Mission in East Texas and the three missions near Querétaro. It also closed its call transfer to the Colorado River in 1730, and subsequent restoration in the San Antonio River in 1731.^[1]

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