Domingo de Basavilbaso

Domingo de Basavilbaso
portrait of Domingo Basavilbaso
Alcalde of Buenos Aires
In office 1745–1746
Monarch	Philip V
Preceded by	Francisco de Herrera y Loizaga
Succeeded by	Juan Martín de Mena
Personal details
Born	September 1, 1709 Bilbao, Spain
Died	May 9, 1775 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Resting place	Buenos Aires Cathedral
Occupation	Government Merchant
Profession	Attorney
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Spain
Service/branch	Spanish Army
Rank	Captain

Domingo de Basavilbaso (1709-1775) was a Spanish nobleman.^[1] He was the founder of mail in Argentina,^[2] where also served as Alcalde and Captain of the Militias of Cavalry of Buenos Aires during the Viceroyalty of Peru.^[3]

Biography

Basavilbaso was born in Llodio (Spain), son of Domingo de Basavilbaso and María Rosa de la Presa, belonging to the Basque nobility.^[4] He arrived at the port of Buenos Aires from Montevideo, establishing itself in the city of Buenos Aires around the year 1729, where it was dedicated to the commerce.^[5]

In 1736, Domingo de Basavilbaso was elected alcalde in first vote of the City of Buenos Aires.^[6] Later he served as a syndic and was regidor of the Cabildo.^[7] In 1748, Basavilbaso established the mail between Buenos Aires and Potosí, being his general administrator until 1772. He had created a system of posts, which linked Buenos Aires with Mendoza and Santiago de Chile, to the west; Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, the northern provinces and Upper Peru. And was also involved in the organization of the Maritime Post in 1767.^[8]

In 1745, Basavilbaso was elected alcalde in first vote by the Cabildo of Buenos Aires.^[9] being in charge of organizing an expedition against the Pampas Indians, that had invaded the borders of jurisdiction of Buenos Aires Province. In these expeditions it was possible to capture the cacique Calelián.^[10]

In 1751 Basavilbaso made several trips to San Julián, being one of the few Spaniards who explored Patagonia in the 18th century.^[11]

The luxurious residence of the Basavilbaso family was located in the current streets Belgrano between Calle Balcarce and Paseo Colón (neighborhood of Santo Domingo).^[12] In his house, Domingo de Basavilbaso hosted important political figures of the time as José Joaquín de Viana^[13] and Ambrosio O'Higgins, personal friend of the Basavilbaso family.^[14]

Domingo de Basavilbaso also held the position of Alférez Real twice, in 1738 and 1745.^[15]

Family

On February 20, 1730, Domingo de Basavilbaso was married in the Buenos Aires Cathedral to María Ignacia de Urtubia Toledo (born in the city), daughter of José de Urtubia Enríquez, born in Navarre and María de Toledo Ojeda (born in the city).^[16] Basavilbaso and his wife were the parents of prominent personalities of Buenos Aires (Francisco Antonio Basavilbaso, husband María Aurelia Ross,^[17] Manuel Basavilbaso, husband Rosa Maciel and Francisca de Garfías,^[18] María Gabriela Basavilbaso abbess in 1779,^[19] María Rosa Basavilbaso, wife Vicente de Azcuénaga, and mother of Miguel de Azcuénaga.^[20] María Victoria Basavilbaso (1743), married Domingo Ignacio Urien, born in Biscay,^[21] Rafaela Basavilbaso, wife José Ignacio Merlo.^[22] and María Paula Basavilbaso, who was married to Francisco Mariano Mendizaga, a silversmith, born in 1752 in Buenos Aires).^[23]

Domingo de Basavilbaso was grandfather of Ana de Azcuénaga de Olaguer Feliú, who was married to Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú (Viceroy of Río de la Plata).^[24] His son, Manuel de Basavilbaso Urtubia was awarded as Knight of the Royal Order of Charles III.^[25]

References

External links

• familysearch.org
• familysearch.org