Antonio de Gálvez y Gallardo

Antonio de Gálvez y Gallardo (* 1728 in Macharaviaya , Province of Málaga , Spain , † 1792 ) was a Spanish nobleman, civil servant and officer.

Origin and family

Antonio was the fourth and youngest son of Antonio Gálvez y Carbajal and Antonia Gallardo Jurado. The family belonged to the landed gentry, but were impoverished. His father died in 1728 before Antonio was born.

With the death of the father, the family's economic situation worsened and the children had to tend goats and sheep to earn money. Despite the difficult conditions, several members of the family made great careers. The eldest brother, Matías , was Governor of the Canary Islands and Viceroy of New Spain . As a general visitor to New Spain and colonial minister, José was responsible for the conception and implementation of the Bourbon reforms in the Spanish colonial empire. Like José, Miguel was a lawyer and was the city administrator of Malaga, Minister and Ambassador of Spain in Prussia and Russia .

Life path

Antonio de Gálvez embarked on a military career and reached the rank of colonel in 1783. His arrogant and contentious nature led to an unsteady curriculum vitae.

He held the office of Administrator General (chief administrative officer) of the Canary Islands and was appointed administrator of the port facilities of Cádiz . Like his brothers he was in the order of Charles III. The role played by fraternal intercession is not known.

Antonio de Gálvez was married to Mariana Ramírez de Velasco. He supported the establishment of elementary schools in Málaga and later also contributed to the financing of their operation and donated honorary prizes for graduates. He also invested money in a silk factory, which, however, failed.

Together with his wife, he founded a pilgrimage chapel in his home town of Macharaviaya.

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• Biography (spanish)