Main/Military Plaza in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

A Request from King Felipe V

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

1. A Request from King Felipe V Marker

Inscription. Motivated by a request from King Felipe V, a group of 56 tenacious, resilient residents of the Canary Islands, Spain settled near here on March 9, 1731 and founded San Fernando de Bexar. The 56 Canary Islands settlers were recorded as 16 families with the heads of the families being:

First Family - Juan Leal Goraz • Second Family - Juan Curbelo • Third Family - Juan Leal "El Mozo" • Fourth Family - Antonio Santos • Fifth Family - Joseph Padron • Sixth Family - Manuel de Niz • Seventh Family - Vicente Álvarez Travieso • Eighth Family - Salvador Rodriguez • Ninth Family - Francisco de Arocha • Tenth Family - Antonio Rodriguez • Eleventh Family - Joseph Leal • Twelfth Family - Juan Delgado • Thirteenth Family - Joseph Cabrera • Fourteenth Family - Maria Rodriguez Robaya • Fifteenth Family - Mariana Meleano • Sixteenth Family - Felipe Perez and Joseph Antonio Perez, Martin Lorenzo de Armas and Ignacio Lorenzo de Armas; two sets of brothers.

In August of the same year, at the direction of King Felipe V, the Presidio Captain, Juan de Almazán oversaw the first elections held here, establishing the first municipal

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

government in Texas.

The men that made up the first government in Texas were:

First Alcalde - Juan Leal Goraz • Second Regidor - Juan Curbelo • Third Regidor - Antonio Santos • Fourth Regido and Second Alcalde - Salvador Rodriguez • Fifth Regidor - Manuel de Niz • Sixth Regidor - Juan Leal • Escribano - Fransico de Arocha • Mayordomo - Antonio Rodriguez • Alguacil Mayor - Vicente Álvarez Travieso

Erected 2020 by Canary Islands Descendants Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1731.

Location. 29° 25.482′ N, 98° 29.686′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Main/Military Plaza. It is at the intersection of Military Plaza and West Commerce Street, on the right when traveling south on Military Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Military Plaza, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally,

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

2. A Request from King Felipe V Marker

Marker is located on the right

it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Recognition of the Hispanic in Texas (a few steps from this marker); Zero Milestone (a few steps from this marker); Plaza de Armas (a few steps from this marker); Growth of a City (within shouting distance of this marker); Flood of the Century (within shouting distance of this marker); Barbed Wire (within shouting distance of this marker); Moses Austin (within shouting distance of this marker); T.C. Frost and the Frost Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.