Pedro de Aranda Avellaneda (1662 – 1702) was a Spanish military officer who served as acting governor of

Spanish Florida Spanish Florida ( es, La Florida) was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery. ''La Florida'' formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, ...

between April and August 1687. He was also a '' Sargento mayor'' (Sergeant major) of the '' presidio'' of San Agustín, and ''

alcayde Qaid ( ar , قائد ', "commander"; pl. '), also spelled kaid or caïd, is a word meaning "commander" or "leader." It was a title in the Norman kingdom of Sicily, applied to palatine officials and members of the ''curia'', usually to those w ...

'' of the

San Salvador de la Punta Fortress Castillo San Salvador de la Punta is a fortress at the entrance to the bay in Havana, Cuba. History La Punta, like El Morro, was designed to protect access to Havana from frequent attack by corsairs. Initially, in 1559, lookouts were posted ...

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Biography

Pedro de Aranda Avellaneda was born in 1662, in

Cádiz Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...

, Spain, to Juan Almario Avellaneda, and María de Aranda y Ponce de León, both also born in Cadiz. He joined the

Spanish army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century. The ...

in his youth, and was eventually appointed '' Sargento mayor'' (Sergeant major) of the presidio of Saint Augustine in ''La Florida''. On April 11, 1687, he was appointed acting governor of Florida, and remained in this office until August 20 of the same year. He was later appointed alcayde of the

Castillo San Salvador de la Punta Castillo San Salvador de la Punta is a fortress at the entrance to the bay in Havana, Cuba. History La Punta, like El Morro, was designed to protect access to Havana from frequent attack by corsairs. Initially, in 1559, lookouts were posted ...

fortress in

Havana, Cuba Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

. On March 24, 1680, Avellaneda married Josefa de Estrada y Velázquez de Cuéllar, the daughter of Capt. Hilario de Estrada y Recio, ''Procurador general'' (

Attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

), and ''Regidor perpetuo del Ayuntamiento'' (

Regidor A regidor (plural: ''regidores'') is a member of a council of municipalities in Spain and Latin America. Portugal also used to have the same office of ''regedor''. Mexico In Mexico, an ayuntamiento (municipal council) is composed of a municipal ...

) of Havana, and his wife Luisa Velázquez de Cuéllar y Mexías. They had 2 children, Antonia and Hilario de Aranda Avellaneda y Estrada. Avellaneda testified before Juan Uribe Ozeta, ''Escribano Público'' (Notary Public) of Havana on November 18, 1699. Pedro de Aranda y Avellaneda died on June 21, 1702. His remains are in the

Cathedral of Havana Havana Cathedral (''Catedral de San Cristóbal'') is one of eleven Catholic cathedrals on the island. It is located in the Plaza de la Catedral on Calle Empedrado, between San Ignacio y Mercaderes, Old Havana. The thirty by forty-nine meters rec ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aranda y Avellaneda, Pedro de Royal Governors of La Florida 1662 births 1702 deaths