José Solís Folch de Cardona

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José Solís Folch as Viceroy of New Granada
José Solís Folch, in the habit of the Franciscans

José Manuel Solís Folch de Cardona (* 1716 in Madrid , Spain , † April 27, 1770 in Bogotá ) was a Spanish officer, clergyman and colonial administrator who served as Viceroy of New Granada.

Solís was a Spanish grandee , field marshal of the Spanish army and a highly decorated officer.

At the age of 37 he came to South America in 1753 after King Ferdinand VI. appointed Viceroy of New Granada.

During his tenure, the infrastructure in the colony was noticeably improved. Solís had roads and bridges built, which led to a significant increase in trade. He did some things to reduce the rampant corruption and embezzlement. So he had a customs office set up in Guayaquil and organized the financial administration more efficiently.

After the end of his term of office in February 1761 he left his fortune to the poor, entered the Franciscan order and spent his last years in the monastery. In 1769 he was ordained a priest. His skull is kept in the sacristy of the Franciscan monastery in Bogotá.

literature

  • Margarita Restrepo Olano: Nueva Granada en tiempos del virrey Solís, 1753–1761. Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 2009, ISBN 978-958-738-002-6 ( limited preview in Google book search).

Web links

predecessor Office successor
José Alfonso Pizarro Viceroy of
New Granada 1753–1761
Pedro Messia de la Cerda