Gregorio José de Toro, 2nd Count of la Conquista
Encyclopedia
Gregorio José de Toro Ureta Valdés y Carrera, 2nd Count of la Conquista (March 11, 1758 – July 23, 1816) was a Spanish-Chilean nobleman who commanded Royalist troops during the Chilean War of Independence.
, Chile, the second son of Mateo de Toro Zambrano, 1st Count of la Conquista and of his wife, María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera
. He joined the Royal Spanish Army, and on December 30, 1769, he became a captain in the Militia Company of the Prince of Asturias. Shortly afterwards he was sent to Spain to study at the Seminary of Noblemen in Madrid. He continued his military career there until becoming a Lieutenant Colonel. On August 2, 1783, he was made a knight of the Order of Santiago
.
In 1797 he married Josefa Dumont de Holdre y Miquel, daughter of Marshal Teodoro Dumont de Holdre and of Mariana Miquel y Lluis, and they had 3 children: Manuel María
, José and María Nicolasa. The family returned to Chile in 1804.
On September 18, 1810, he participated of the open Cabildo
(city hall) that resulted in the establishment of the Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile
under the presidency of his father, also known as the First Junta, an action which is generally seen as the first step of the Chilean independence process
. From the beginning he was a member of the royalist
party, the most conservative group that was against any reform at all and for the maintenance of the status quo.
He inherited the title at the death of his father a few months later, on February 27, 1811. He fought with the Spanish Army against independence, and died in Santiago in 1816. Was in turn succeeded to the title by his eldest son, Manuel María.
Life
Gregorio José de Toro was born in SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Chile, the second son of Mateo de Toro Zambrano, 1st Count of la Conquista and of his wife, María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera
Nicolasa Valdés
María Nicolasa de Valdés y de la Carrera was the first First Lady of Chile from September 18, 1810, when her husband became President in Chile's First Government Junta, until her death four months later....
. He joined the Royal Spanish Army, and on December 30, 1769, he became a captain in the Militia Company of the Prince of Asturias. Shortly afterwards he was sent to Spain to study at the Seminary of Noblemen in Madrid. He continued his military career there until becoming a Lieutenant Colonel. On August 2, 1783, he was made a knight of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
.
In 1797 he married Josefa Dumont de Holdre y Miquel, daughter of Marshal Teodoro Dumont de Holdre and of Mariana Miquel y Lluis, and they had 3 children: Manuel María
Manuel María de Toro, 3rd Count of la Conquista
Manuel María de Toro y Dumont de Holdre, 3rd Count of la Conquista was a Spanish nobleman who fought with the Royalist troops during the Chilean War of Independence.-Life:...
, José and María Nicolasa. The family returned to Chile in 1804.
On September 18, 1810, he participated of the open Cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
(city hall) that resulted in the establishment of the Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile
Government Junta of Chile (1810)
Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile , also known as the First Government Junta, was the organ established to rule Chile following the deposition and imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon Bonaparte...
under the presidency of his father, also known as the First Junta, an action which is generally seen as the first step of the Chilean independence process
Chilean Independence
Chilean War of Independence was an armed conflict between pro-Independence criollos who sought political and economic independence from Spain and royalist criollos, who supported the continued allegiance to and permanence within the Spanish Empire of the Kingdom of Chile...
. From the beginning he was a member of the royalist
Royalist (Spanish American Revolutions)
The royalists were the American and European supporters of the various governing bodies of the Spanish Monarchy, during the Spanish American wars of independence, which lasted from 1808 until the king's death in 1833...
party, the most conservative group that was against any reform at all and for the maintenance of the status quo.
He inherited the title at the death of his father a few months later, on February 27, 1811. He fought with the Spanish Army against independence, and died in Santiago in 1816. Was in turn succeeded to the title by his eldest son, Manuel María.