José de Zúñiga y la Cerda

José de Zúñiga y la Cerda (1654 - 1725) was a Spanish nobleman, field master and governor of Florida (1699-1706) and Cartagena de Indias (in modern Colombia; 1712-1718).

Early years
José de Zúñiga y la Cerda was born in 1654. He served twenty-seven years in the Spanish-thirds of Flanders, reaching the rank of field marshal. Participated in the defense of the town of Melilla besieged by the Moors.

Florida Governor
King Carlos II of Spain named him Governor and Captain General of Florida in January 30, 1699. The oath to fulfill their duty and with the instructions given in the appointment were granted by him before the Court (President and official judges) of the Casa de Contratación (in English: House of Trade) in Seville, on May 20, 1699. He was given license to carry four servants singles. He sailed to New Spain in the fleet, commanded by General Manuel de Velasco y Tejada on May 23, 1699.

He was Governor of Florida from 1699 until 1706. During his government did improve the castle and town defenses of St. Augustine, the capital of the governorate. In 1702 the castle was besieged by British troops under Colonel Moore, whoever can not take it due to the tenacious defense of Governor Jose de Zuniga. By this reason, he made in revenge set fire to the city. He left the office of Governor of Florida in 9 April 1706.

Governor of Cartagena de Indias
Zúñiga was appointed governor of Cartagena de Indias in 1712, to replace to Juan Diaz Pimienta. He served until 1718. Back to Spain in the only boat that was saved from the fleet of Admiral Antonio de Ulloa, which was lost in the Bahamas. He died in 1725.