Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta
Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta y Garro | |
|---|---|
Escudo de armas de Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta | |
| 53rd Spanish Governor of New Mexico | |
| In office 1767–1777 | |
| Preceded by | Tomás Vélez Cachupín |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Trevre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 July 1725 Elizondo, Navarra |
| Died | 18 January 1806 (aged 80) Elizondo, Navarra |
| Profession | Soldier and governor of colonial New Mexico |
| Signature | |
Field Marshal Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta y Garro, Knight of the Order of Santiago, served as the Spanish colonial governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México province (present day New Mexico) from 1767 to 1777, located in the northern Viceroyalty of New Spain (colonial México). He was born in Elizondo (Navarra) to Bartolomé de Mendinueta y Echenique and Ana Catalina de Garro y Micheltorena. He belonged to a network of prominent aristocratic families, specially from the Baztan Valley, which began to gain significant influence at the start of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty in the 18th century: such as the Arizcun, Pontejos, Goyeneche, Valdeolmos families.
He saved the public buildings of Santa Fe, including the governor's house, when the city was flooded. His government paid great attention to the regulation and punishment of crimes in New Mexico, which were especially abundant in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. He also had to fight the Comanches, who frequently attacked the population of northern New Mexico. He tried to make a peace treaty with them, but it failed when the Comanches disobeyed the treaty, and he established a better defense system in New Mexico.