Manuel Antonio Flórez
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Manuel Antonio Flórez Maldonado Martínez Ángulo y BodquínReal Academia de la historia
Diccionario Bibliográfico español - Manuel Antonio Flórez
/ref> (in full, ''Manuel Antonio Flórez Maldonado'') (May 27, 1723, in
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,
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– March 20, 1799, in
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) was a general in the
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and viceroy of New Granada (1776 – November 26, 1781) and
New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( ; Nahuatl: ''Yankwik Kaxtillan Birreiyotl''), originally the Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain. It was one of several ...
(August 17, 1787 to October 16, 1789).


Early career

Flórez entered the royal navy of Spain, where he commanded various ships of war fighting pirates, in both the Mediterranean and in Spanish possessions in America. He distinguished himself for his valor as well as his knowledge, and was made a knight of the military Order of Calatrava. He became commandant of the Naval Department at el Ferrol, a major naval base, shipbuilding center and arsenal in northwestern Spain. He served in that position for four years (1771–75). Flórez was named viceroy of New Granada, and sailed to take up the position on December 3, 1775. He served in this capacity for 11 years and 5 months. He was well liked in New Grenada. He resigned in 1787, citing ill health. However, his resignation was apparently motivated by dissatisfaction of
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, Minister of the Indies, and Archbishop Antonio Caballero y Góngora of Bogotá.


As Viceroy of New Spain

In 1787 he was named viceroy of New Spain and president of the Audiencia of Mexico. He arrived in
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on July 18, 1787 and took possession of his new offices in
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on August 17. In office, he raised three new battalions of volunteers, those of Mexico, Nueva España, and Puebla. He refused to share his authority with Fernando José Mangino, who had been named superintendent of New Spain (1787). He intervened in a dispute between missionaries and the military governor of California. He arranged that the sons of the largest landowners of the colony be given high positions in the colonial army. In 1788 he arranged with the Spanish government to bring in 11 German miners from Dresden to teach Mexican miners recent technical advances in metallurgy. During his administration the Real Estudio Botánico opened. On April 28, 1788, the distinguished Mexican historian and Jesuit Francisco Javier Alegre died in exile in Bologna. On June 4, 1788, the expedition of
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sailed from
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, in the '' Princesa'' to explore the North Pacific coast. This expedition sailed as far as the
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. On August 12, 1788,
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was born in Yucatán. He was later vice-president of the independent
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. King
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died on December 14, 1788, after a long reign. The sumptuous obsequies after his death cost the treasury of New Spain a great deal. Viceroy Flórez was personally very affected, because Charles III had been his protector. The Audiencia informed the Crown of Flórez's failing health, and he was ordered to step down because of it. He was granted six months' additional pay to cover his expenses on the return to Spain. He returned there on October 16, 1789, where he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Charles III and named honorary
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. He died in Madrid on March 20, 1799.


References

* "Flores, Manuel Antonio," ''Enciclopedia de México'', v. 5. Mexico City: 1987. * García Puron, Manuel, ''México y sus gobernantes'', v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984. * Orozco L., Fernando, ''Fechas Históricas de México''. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1988, . * Orozco Linares, Fernando, ''Gobernantes de México''. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, .


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flórez, Manuel Antonio Viceroys of New Spain Viceroys of New Granada 1723 births 1799 deaths Politicians from Seville Spanish generals Spanish history in the Pacific Northwest 1770s in the Viceroyalty of New Granada 1780s in the Viceroyalty of New Granada 1780s in Mexico 1780s in New Spain 18th-century Spanish military personnel