Félix Berenguer de Marquina
Viceroy of New Spain
In office 1800–1803
Preceded by	Miguel José de Azanza
Succeeded by	José de Iturrigaray
Governor-General of the Philippines
In office 1788–1793
Preceded by	Pedro de Sarrio
Succeeded by	Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce De León
Personal details
Born	1736 Alicante, Spain
Died	October 10, 1823(1823-10-10) Alicante, Spain

Félix Berenguer de Marquina (1736, Alicante, Spain – October 10, 1826, Alicante) was a Spanish naval officer, colonial official and, from April 30, 1800 to January 4, 1803, viceroy of New Spain.

Origins and early career [edit]

Berenguer de Marquina was born in Spain to a family of the minor nobility of Alicante in 1736. His parents being Ignacio Berenguer de Marquina y Pasqual de Riquelme and Mary FitzGerald, he belonged to one of the most influential families in Alicante through his father's side and to the ancient Irish House of FitzGerald through his mother's. He joined the navy at a very young age. On April 30, 1754 he took the midshipman examination. Thereafter he served on ships of war in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. He married María de Ansoátegui y Barrón in 1758, thus becoming, years later, the uncle of one of Venezuela's Libertadores, José Antonio Anzoátegui.

He was studious, and became a teacher of mathematics and astronomy in the Naval Academy at Cartagena (1757–69). In 1789 he was named director of the organization of pilots of the fleet.

From July 1, 1788 to September 1, 1793 he was governor of the Philippines and named him the little pueblo which is now known as Marikina, part of Metro Manila. On August 15, 1789 by royal decree Manila became an open port to all but European products. He proposed plans for reform of the government.

Berenguer returned to Spain in 1795 to take up a position in the administration of the navy. In 1799 he was promoted to lieutenant general of the navy.

As viceroy of New Spain [edit]

He was in command of a squadron in the Spanish navy when, on November 8, 1799, King Charles IV named him viceroy and captain general of New Spain and president of the Audiencia. During the voyage from Cuba to Veracruz, he was taken prisoner by the British near Cape Catoche, Yucatán Peninsula (Quintana Roo). He was conducted to Jamaica. He was treated with much courtesy and later allowed to continue on his way in the schooner Kingston, with his secretary.

He accepted the transfer of authority into his offices April 29, 1800, in the Villa de Guadalupe, and made his formal entry into Mexico City the following day.

In this period. the British dominated both coasts of New Spain. They smuggled huge amounts of merchandise into the colony from the United States and the islands of the Caribbean and captured the Spanish ships in the coastal trade. Berenguer supplied more resources to Spanish naval forces, but they were unable to do much to improve the situation. He also formed the Regiment of Grenadiers, consisting of twelve companies drawn from six provincial forces. Fearing British raids, he reinforced the garrisons at Veracruz and ordered that the valuables of the port be moved to Jalapa and guarded. He also reinforced the presidios in the north, to repulse American encroachment.

On October 1, 1800, Spain retroceded the territory of Louisiana to France, which soon sold it to the United States.

Conspiracies and Indian rebellions [edit]

On January 1, 1801, Indio Mariano began an insurrection in the mountains of Tepic. Mariano, who had many followers, was trying to reestablish the Aztec empire. The rebels fought under a banner displaing the colors of the Virgin of Guadalupe. When Fernando Abascal, president of the Audiencia of Guadalajara, took notice of the rebellion, he sent Captain Salvador Hidalgo (or Fidalgo) of the navy and Captain Leonardo Pintado of the militia against them. The rebels were defeated. Many prisoners were taken, and many other Indians were forced up into the mountains, but Mariano escaped. He was never captured by the Spanish. His followers who were taken prisoner were transferred to Guadalajara, but most were soon released.

Also, in January 1801, Francisco Antonio Vázquez, a naval official, was denounced for conspiracy, but nothing could be proven.

In Teocelo, Veracruz, Pedro Martín led another Indian rebellion. There were also attempted rebellions by the indigenous in Nayarit, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Sonora.

Suppression of Philip Nolan [edit]

Berenguer suppressed the American smugglers under Philip Nolan in the north of the colony. Nolan was born about 1771, probably in Kentucky. He was a close associate of U.S. general and adventurer James Wilkinson, a co-conspirator of Aaron Burr. Beginning after 1791, Nolan began trading/smuggling activities in New Spain. He also imported wild horses from Texas into the United States. He was regarded by the Spaniards as a spy and a rebel. They sent troops to arrest him in 1801. He was killed in battle near the present city of Waco, Texas. His band was taken captive and sent to work the mines in northern New Spain. Nolan County, Texas is named for him. Edward Everett Hale used his name for the protagonist in his story "The Man Without a Country".

Other Life as Philippine Governor-General [edit]

He served as the Philippine Governor-General from 1788-1793.

Later administration in New Spain [edit]

Berenguer extended to the entire colony the requirement that no one be admitted into meetings of the guilds or confraternities without being decently dressed. He permitted women to work in jobs consistent with decency, even if the ordinances prohibited it.

On October 5, 1801, an earthquake in Oaxaca destroyed the new church of the Jesuit convent of La Concepción.

In June 1801, Spain made peace with Portugal, and in 1802 with Britain. (The news of peace with Britain was published in Mexico on September 9, 1802). Thanks to the peace, prices of European goods dropped. In 1802, the payment of tribute to Spain was renewed.

Berenguer was persevering, honorable and valiant, but with little ability to govern. His public works in Mexico City were very limited — one fountain that never gave water, and the completion of Manuel Tolsá's equestrian statute of Charles IV.

Berenguer, disgusted with the disallowance of some of his measures, resigned. He turned over the government to his successor, José de Iturrigaray in January 1803. He returned to Spain, where he took part in the war with France. He died in the city of his birth in 1826.

References [edit]

• (Spanish) "Berenguer de Marquina, Félix," Enciclopedia de México, v. 2. Mexico City: 1996, ISBN 1-56409-016-7.
• (Spanish) García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes,, v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
• (Spanish) Orozco L., Fernando, Fechas históricas de México. Mexico City: Panorama, 1988, ISBN 968-38-0046-7.
• (Spanish) Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.

External links [edit]

New Spain portal

• (Spanish) Short biography
• List of governors of the Philippines

v t e Spanish Governors-General of the Philippines 1565–1898 Miguel López de Legazpi Guido de Lavezaris Francisco de Sande Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa Diego Ronquillo Santiago de Vera Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas Pedro de Rojas Luis Pérez Dasmariñas Francisco Tello de Guzmán Pedro Bravo de Acuña Cristóbal Téllez de Almanza Count of Valle de Orizaba Juan de Silva Andrés Alcaraz Alonso Fajardo Jeronimo de Silva Fernándo de Silva Juan Niño de Tabora Lorenzo de Olaza Juan Cerezo de Salamanca Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera Diego Fajardo Sabiniano Manrique de Lara Diego de Salcedo Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz Manuel de León Francisco Coloma Francisco Sotomayor Juan de Vargas Gabriel de Curuzealegui Alonso de Ávila Fuertes Fausto Cruzat y Góngora Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri Martín de Urzua y Arismendi José Torralba Fernando Bustamante Francisco de la Cuesta Toribio José Cosio Fernándo Valdés Gaspar de la Torre Juan de Arechederra Marquis of Brindisi and Ovando Pedro Manuel de Arandía Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta Manuel Rojo Simón de Anda Francisco Javier de la Torre José Antonio Raón Simón de Anda Pedro de Sarrio The Count of the Conquest of Batanes Islands Pedro de Sarrio Félix Berenguer de Marquina Rafael María de Aguilar Mariano Fernández de Folgueras Manuel Gonzalez de Aguilar José Gardoqui Jaraveitia Mariano Fernández de Folgueras Juan Antonio Martínez Mariano Ricafort Palacin Pascual Enrile Gabriel de Torres Joaquín de Crámer Pedro Antonio Salazar Andrés García Camba Luis Lardizábal Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri Francisco de Paula Alcalá de la Torre Narciso Clavería Antonio María Blanco Antonio de Urbiztondo Ramón Montero Manuel Pavía Ramón Montero Manuel Crespo Ramón Montero Fernándo Norzagaray Ramón María Solano Juan Herrera Dávila José Lemery Salvador Valdés Rafael de Echague Joaquín del Solar Juan de Lara José Laureano de Sanz Juan Antonio Osorio Joaquín del Solar José de la Gándara Manuel Maldonado Cárlos María de la Torre Rafael de Izquierdo Manuel MacCrohon Juan Alaminos Manuel Blanco Valderrama José Malcampo Domingo Moriones Rafael Rodríguez Arias Fernándo Primo de Rivera Emilio Molíns Joaquín Jovellar Emilio Molíns Emilio Terrero Antonio Molto Federico Lobaton Valeriano Wéyler Eulogio Despujol Federico Ochando Ramón Blanco Camilo de Polavieja José de Lachambre Fernándo Primo de Rivera Basilio Augustín Fermín Jáudenes Francisco Rizzo Diego de los Ríos , Italics indicates a member of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. Smallcaps indicates an oidor of the Real Audiencia of Manila.

v t e Viceroys of New Spain (1535-1821) Charles V (1535-1564) Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco Luis de Velasco y Ruiz de Alarcón Philip II (1566-1603) Gastón de Peralta Martín Enríquez de Almanza Lorenzo Suárez de Mendoza Pedro Moya de Contreras Álvaro Manrique de Zúñiga Luis de Velasco Gaspar de Zúñiga Philip III (1603-1621) Juan de Mendoza y Luna Luis de Velasco García Guerra Diego Fernández de Córdoba Philip IV (1621-1673) Diego Carrillo de Mendoza Rodrigo Pacheco Lope Díez de Armendáriz Diego López Pacheco Juan de Palafox y Mendoza García Sarmiento de Sotomayor Marcos de Torres y Rueda Luis Enríquez de Guzmán Francisco Fernández de la Cueva Juan de Leyva de la Cerda Diego Osorio de Escobar y Llamas Antonio Sebastián de Toledo Charles II (1673-1701) Pedro Nuño Colón Payo Enríquez de Rivera Tomás de la Cerda Melchor Portocarrero Gaspar de la Cerda Juan Ortega y Montañés José Sarmiento y Valladares Philip V (1701-1746) Juan Ortega y Montañés Francisco Fernández de la Cueva Fernando de Alencastre Baltasar de Zúñiga Juan de Acuña Juan Antonio de Vizarrón y Eguiarreta Pedro de Castro Pedro Cebrián y Agustín Ferdinand VI (1746-1760) Juan Francisco de Güemes Agustín de Ahumada y Villalón Charles III (1760-1789) Francisco Cajigal de la Vega Joaquín de Montserrat Carlos Francisco de Croix Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa Martín de Mayorga Ferrer Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid Alonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta Manuel Antonio Flores Maldonado Charles IV (1789-1809) Juan Vicente de Güemes Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca Miguel José de Azanza Félix Berenguer de Marquina José de Iturrigaray Pedro de Garibay Ferdinand VII (1809-1821) Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont Francisco Javier Venegas Félix María Calleja del Rey Juan José Ruiz de Apodaca y Eliza Francisco Novella Azabal Pérez y Sicardo Juan O'Donojú y O'Rian