MARTIN DE MAYORGA - DOCUMENT SIGNED 07/09/1782 CO-SIGNED BY: TEODORO DE CROIX - HFSID 294531

MARTIN DE MAYORGA and TEODORO DE CROIX
As governing officials of New Spain, they call for increased collection of saltpeter to expedite production of gunpowder. Document is 16¾x22½
Document signed: Martin de Mayorga [Signed with his paraph below his printed signature] as Viceroy of New Spain, and "De Croix" as Commander of the Northern Provinces, 12 x16¾ (formed from two sheets of seal paper). Mexico (City), 1782 July 9. Partly printed document calling for increased collection of saltpeter to meet the needs of gunpowder production for the cities of Veracruz, Havana, Campeche, Guatemala and Manila. MARTIN DE MAYORGA Ferrer (1721-1783), also a career Spanish officer, was Captain General of Guatemala (1773-1779) before being named interim Viceroy of New Spain (1779-1783). As Viceroy he improved sanitation in an effort to combat smallpox and other epidemics, and collected and preserved historical records. He dispatched a small military force to Florida to aid the American settlers fighting for independence from Britain. TEODORO DE CROIX (1730-1792) was a French-born Spanish soldier and colonial official. After serving in the Spanish king's bodyguard, he was sent to the Americas in 1766 as inspector of military garrisons and commander of the fortress at Acapulco. In 1777, he took command of the newly created General Command for the Northern Provinces, encompassing Spanish California and Texas as well as northern Mexico. His mission was to preserve order in the territory, suppress any revolt by Indian communities, and guard the frontier against incursion by other colonial powers (France and England). In 1783, de Croix was reassigned as Viceroy of Peru, where he served until 1790. The Viceroyalty of New Spain encompassed all Spanish territory in North America and the Caribbean, plus Pacific territories, including the Philippines. Edges frayed. Toned. Corners worn and torn. Creased. Multiple mailing folds. Notch at center.