Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta
| Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta | |
|---|---|
| 53rd Spanish Governor of New Mexico | |
|
In office 1767–1777 |
|
| Preceded by | Tomás Vélez Cachupín |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Trevre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown unknown |
| Died | unknown unknown |
| Profession | Soldier and governor of colonial New Mexico |
| Signature |  |
Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta was the Spanish colonial governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México province (present day New Mexico) from 1767 to 1777, located in the northern Viceroyalty of New Spain (colonial México).
He saved the public buildings of Santa Fe, including the governor's house, when the city was flooded. His government paid great attention to the regulation and punishment of crimes in New Mexico, which were especially abundant in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. He also had to fight the Comanches, who frequently attacked the population of northern New Mexico. He tried to make a peace treaty with them, but it failed when the Comanches disobeyed the treaty, and he established a better defense system in New Mexico.
Mendinueta became governor and captain-general of Santa Fe de Nuevo México province in 1767.
In October 1767, the rising Santa Fe River caused a flood in the town. Mendinueta called on the residents to build retaining walls between the riverbed and the pueblo to protect public buildings. Afterwards, the Palace of the Governors remained unharmed in subsequent floods.
In November 1767, Mendinueta established a law to regulate the hardest crimes in order to set an example. In addition, In early 1768 Mendinueta sent orders to Francisco Trebol Navarro (alcalde mayor of the city of Albuquerque) and Felipe Tafoya (alcalde mayor of Santa Fe) that they punish crimes taking place in their cities (gambling, concubinage, theft, prostitution, etc.) or else be fired. Indeed, Mendinueta considered Albuquerque to be one of the most dangerous places in New Mexico. In January 1768, Mendinueta was named a captain, so he led the Spanish troops that would participate in a military campaign against indigenous peoples. However, Mendinueta did not support all the requests from the residents of New Mexico. For example, he refused the citizens' request to replace Trebol as mayor of Albuquerque because they felt Trebol was incompetent. Indeed, during his administration, the crime rate increased in Albuquerque.
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