Juan Páez Hurtado


Juan Páez Hurtado was a Spanish official. He was Captain General, Governor and Mayor of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.

Early life

Hurtado was born in Villafranca de las Marismas, near Seville. He was baptized in the parish of Santa María la Blanca on December 22, 1668. He was born to a humble family. When he was a teenager he enlisted in the Spanish Royal Army as a cape, in Seville.

Career

He attained the General and Sergeant grades. Eventually, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean heading to Mexican territory. He participated in many battles.
In Michoacán, he began his military career under Mayor Diego de Vargas. Hurtado later moved to New Mexico. After Vargas' death he became senior Captain General and Governor of New Mexico. In addition, between 1704 and 1705 and 1716 and 1717 Hurtado was twice Mayor of the capital Santa Fe.
Under his governance, The Faraones Apaches stole the horses and mules of the Spanish. In 1614, Hurtado was assigned to punish this tribe. He led an unsuccessful expedition to search for them. He occupied the second tier of colonial officers in New Mexico.

Personal life

In Michoacán he married Pascuala López Vera, with whom he had a daughter in 1688.
On June 30th 1704 he married
Teodora Garcia De La Riva, with whom he had three children: Antonia, Gertrudis, Juan Domingo Paez Hurtado
He died on May 5, 1742. He is buried under the "Altar of the Basilica of Santa María, la conquistadora", Patroness of New Mexico.