Miguel Antonio de Merlos

Miguel Antonio de Merlos (1669-c.1744) was a Spanish politician and military man, who served during the Viceroyalty of Peru as Alférez, Capitán of Militias and Sargento Mayor of the Compañía of Guardias Españolas of Buenos Aires. He had also served as Governor of the province of Porco in 1709.

Biography
Miguel Antonio de Merlos was baptized on January 20, 1669 in the Parish of Santa Eulalia (Murcia, Spain); the son of Diego de Merlos y Calvo and Estefanía Jiménez de los Ríos, belonging to noble families of Murcia.

He did his studies in Spain and arrived at the Río de la Plata as a passenger of Capt. Francisco de Retama in 1691. Installed in Buenos Aires he held various military and political positions, including as commander of the city fort, and notary in the Real Asiento de Inglaterra. He also held the position of Mayordomo of Buenos Aires in 1705 and 1740, being in charge of managing the finances of the city.

His first public position in the Spanish domains of America was as Governor of Porco (Potosí, Bolivia), appointed on September 15, 1708, during the viceroyalty of Manuel de Oms, 1st Marquis of Castelldosrius.

Family
Miguel Antonio de Merlos was married in the Buenos Aires Cathedral to Rosa Martinez de Figueroa, born in 1669 in Chile, daughter of Juan Martínez Guerrero, a Creole nobleman of Chilean origin, and Josefa de Figueroa y Cabrera, born in Alcaraz. He and his wife were the parents of Miguel Antonio de Merlos y Martínez, caballero of the Real Orden de Santiago, who served as alcalde of 2nd vote (vice-mayor) of Buenos Aires in 1735.