José de la Borda
Encyclopedia
José de la Bordawichilopstli (Joseph de Laborde in French; ca. 1700-May 30, 1778) was a French/Spaniard who migrated to New Spain
in the 18th century, amassing a great fortune in mines in Taxco
and Zacatecas
in Mexico. At one point, he was the richest man in Mexico. He is best remembered today through several architectural works that he sponsored, the most monumental being the Santa Prisca Church in Taxco (barroco).
in the then kingdom of Aragon
(Spain
) or in the French city of Béarn
in either 1699 or 1700. He was the second son of Pierre Laborde, an officer in the army of Louis XIV of France
and Spaniard Magdalena Sanchez. His older brother, Francisco, left Europe for Mexico in 1708. Eight years later, he wrote for José to join him to work with him at the La Lajuela mine he founded in Tehuilotepec, near Taxco. At the time, the Taxco area had the richest mining in Mexico, producing iron, silver, gold and more. José arrived to Mexico in 1716, when he was only 17.
In 1720, José married Teresa Verdugo, the daughter of Captain Verdugo and the younger sister of Francisco’s wife. The union produced two children, Ana María and Manuel. Shortly after the birth of the second, Ana María died of illness.
in 1734. Here he founded a mine that was very successful. In 1738, his brother Francisco died and Borda inherited his brother’s property. Deeper exploration of the original La Lajuela mine yielded an abundance of silver. It is from this strike that Borda first funded the building of the Santa Prisca Church. When this mine had nearly run out, he discovered a richer one in the Taxco called San Ignacio. With this money, he rebuilt and expanded the Santa Prisca Church. However, the San Ignacio mine produced for only nine years.
By 1760, Borda’s mines had run out, forcing him to explore in Real de Monte and then in Chontalpa in 1761. By this time, he was practically bankrupt. Borda mortgaged the last major possession he owned in Taxco, the richly ornate Santa Prisca Church, in order to finance an expedition to Zacatecas. Once there, he initially worked in a mine called “La Quebradilla” but it did not produced as much as hoped and payments were coming due on the mortgage. With the last of his money, he opened the mine “La Esperanza” which again made him a wealthy man. With this new mine, Borda became the richest man in Zacatecas, as he had been before in Taxco. He was named a regent of Zacatecas.
However, by 1776, the aging Borda was affected by mercury poisoning and other illnesses. He wanted to return to Taxco, but his son Manuel convinced him to retire to the family house in Cuernavaca, where he thought the climate would be better. Here, Manuel was already living and practicing as a priest. Just before Borda died in 1778, his son administered last rites
.
In total, Borda’s earnings from his mines in Mexico totaled 40 million pesos, and at the heights of his career was the richest man in Mexico and perhaps the world.
, as well as the best artisans for the project. As he completely financed the building and operation of the church, he had total control over it aesthetically. It is described as exuberant Baroque
or Churrigueresque
with two large towers of pink stone. The churches organ is made with fine wood and is still played 250 years after it was brought from Germany. The church is named after Saint Prisca
, a female Roman aristocrat who defied Claudius II
by repudiating Apollo
in favor of Christ.(barrranco) At the time, it was one of the most richly adorned churches in New Spain. Many of its sculptures and other decorative features were covered in gold and jewels. Eventually, many of these items would make their way to the Mexico City Cathedral and Notre Dame
in Paris
.
The Borda Garden was originally a large mansion owned by the Borda family in Cuernavaca
. This is where Borda died in 1778. Later, Borda’s son, Manuel, transformed the grounds of the house into gardens filled with flowers and fruit trees to satisfy his passion for botany. These gardens also contain a number of fountains and an artificial lake and were completed in 1783. In 1865, this was the summer home of Emperor Maximilian I
and his wife Carlota Amalia. It hosted major political soirees in the 19th and 20th centuries such as those sponsored by Porfirio Díaz
and Emiliano Zapata
. Today the area is a public park where the gardens have been maintained, and the house itself has been converted into a museum .
The last is the Borda House located in Mexico City on Madero Street in the historic center
. Originally the building encompassed an entire city block and was supposed to rival the palaces of Hernán Cortés
and his descendents. It was also a present from Borda to his wife after he regained his wealth from his mines in Zacatecas. The building has two ironwork balconies on the two upper floors that went around the entire structure, allowing Borda to walk around the block without ever leaving his house. Since Borda’s death, this building has been partitioned and most of it is lost except for a small section on Madero Street. The remains of the double balcony are still present.
. The Santa Prisca Church is the largest work associated with Borda, although he funded numerous social charities as well. Archbishop of New Spain, Antonio Jimenez y Frias said that he was “a miner distinguished for his charity, rare in his virtue, exceptional for his humility, a phoenix for his liberal views and, in a word, a hero of the rich miners of this America. There is a parchment signed by Benedict XIV dedicated to the miner referring to him as a friend. However, he is also remembered as one who made his fortune by cruelly exploiting native labor.
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
in the 18th century, amassing a great fortune in mines in Taxco
Taxco
Taxco de Alarcón is a small city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The name Taxco is most likely derived from the Nahuatl word tlacheco, which means “place of the ballgame.” However, one interpretation has the name coming from the word tatzco which means “where the father...
and Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
in Mexico. At one point, he was the richest man in Mexico. He is best remembered today through several architectural works that he sponsored, the most monumental being the Santa Prisca Church in Taxco (barroco).
Early life and arrival to Mexico
Borda was born either in the province of JacaJaca
Jaca is a city of northeastern Spain near the border with France, in the midst of the Pyrenees in the province of Huesca...
in the then kingdom of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) or in the French city of Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
in either 1699 or 1700. He was the second son of Pierre Laborde, an officer in the army of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
and Spaniard Magdalena Sanchez. His older brother, Francisco, left Europe for Mexico in 1708. Eight years later, he wrote for José to join him to work with him at the La Lajuela mine he founded in Tehuilotepec, near Taxco. At the time, the Taxco area had the richest mining in Mexico, producing iron, silver, gold and more. José arrived to Mexico in 1716, when he was only 17.
In 1720, José married Teresa Verdugo, the daughter of Captain Verdugo and the younger sister of Francisco’s wife. The union produced two children, Ana María and Manuel. Shortly after the birth of the second, Ana María died of illness.
Mining career
After working with his brother for a number of years, José set off to find new mineral strikes, arriving to TlalpujahuaTlalpujahua
Tlalpujahua is a town and municipality located in the far northeast of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. It is a former mining town, home of the Dos Estrellas Mine, which was the leading producer of gold in the early 20th century...
in 1734. Here he founded a mine that was very successful. In 1738, his brother Francisco died and Borda inherited his brother’s property. Deeper exploration of the original La Lajuela mine yielded an abundance of silver. It is from this strike that Borda first funded the building of the Santa Prisca Church. When this mine had nearly run out, he discovered a richer one in the Taxco called San Ignacio. With this money, he rebuilt and expanded the Santa Prisca Church. However, the San Ignacio mine produced for only nine years.
By 1760, Borda’s mines had run out, forcing him to explore in Real de Monte and then in Chontalpa in 1761. By this time, he was practically bankrupt. Borda mortgaged the last major possession he owned in Taxco, the richly ornate Santa Prisca Church, in order to finance an expedition to Zacatecas. Once there, he initially worked in a mine called “La Quebradilla” but it did not produced as much as hoped and payments were coming due on the mortgage. With the last of his money, he opened the mine “La Esperanza” which again made him a wealthy man. With this new mine, Borda became the richest man in Zacatecas, as he had been before in Taxco. He was named a regent of Zacatecas.
However, by 1776, the aging Borda was affected by mercury poisoning and other illnesses. He wanted to return to Taxco, but his son Manuel convinced him to retire to the family house in Cuernavaca, where he thought the climate would be better. Here, Manuel was already living and practicing as a priest. Just before Borda died in 1778, his son administered last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
.
In total, Borda’s earnings from his mines in Mexico totaled 40 million pesos, and at the heights of his career was the richest man in Mexico and perhaps the world.
Architectural works
Borda is remembered mostly through three architectural works which remain to this day: the Santa Prisca Church in Taxco, the Borda House in Mexico City and the Borda Garden in Cuernavaca. The most lavish and monumental of these is the Santa Prisca Church. Built between 1751 and 1758, Borda hired the best artists, such as Miguel CabreraMiguel Cabrera
José Miguel Cabrera Torres nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
, as well as the best artisans for the project. As he completely financed the building and operation of the church, he had total control over it aesthetically. It is described as exuberant Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
or Churrigueresque
Churrigueresque
Churrigueresque refers to a Spanish Baroque style of elaborate sculptural architectural ornament which emerged as a manner of stucco decoration in Spain in the late 17th century and was used up to about 1750, marked by extreme, expressive and florid decorative detailing, normally found above the...
with two large towers of pink stone. The churches organ is made with fine wood and is still played 250 years after it was brought from Germany. The church is named after Saint Prisca
Saint Prisca
Saint Prisca was a Roman young woman allegedly tortured and executed for her Christian faith. Her dates are unknown. She is revered as a saint and a martyr by the Roman Catholic Church...
, a female Roman aristocrat who defied Claudius II
Claudius II
Claudius II , commonly known as Claudius Gothicus, was Roman Emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alamanni and scored a crushing victory against the Goths at the Battle of Naissus. He died after succumbing to a smallpox plague that ravaged the provinces of...
by repudiating Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
in favor of Christ.(barrranco) At the time, it was one of the most richly adorned churches in New Spain. Many of its sculptures and other decorative features were covered in gold and jewels. Eventually, many of these items would make their way to the Mexico City Cathedral and Notre Dame
Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris , also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra of...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The Borda Garden was originally a large mansion owned by the Borda family in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
. This is where Borda died in 1778. Later, Borda’s son, Manuel, transformed the grounds of the house into gardens filled with flowers and fruit trees to satisfy his passion for botany. These gardens also contain a number of fountains and an artificial lake and were completed in 1783. In 1865, this was the summer home of Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
and his wife Carlota Amalia. It hosted major political soirees in the 19th and 20th centuries such as those sponsored by Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
and Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
. Today the area is a public park where the gardens have been maintained, and the house itself has been converted into a museum .
The last is the Borda House located in Mexico City on Madero Street in the historic center
Historic center of Mexico City
The historic center of Mexico City is also known as the "Centro" or "Centro Histórico." This neighborhood is focused on the Zócalo or main plaza in Mexico City and extends in all directions for a number of blocks with its farthest extent being west to the Alameda Central The Zocalo is the largest...
. Originally the building encompassed an entire city block and was supposed to rival the palaces of Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
and his descendents. It was also a present from Borda to his wife after he regained his wealth from his mines in Zacatecas. The building has two ironwork balconies on the two upper floors that went around the entire structure, allowing Borda to walk around the block without ever leaving his house. Since Borda’s death, this building has been partitioned and most of it is lost except for a small section on Madero Street. The remains of the double balcony are still present.
Legacy
"God gives to La Borda and La Borda gives to God," reads his family's motto, explaining his generosity to the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. The Santa Prisca Church is the largest work associated with Borda, although he funded numerous social charities as well. Archbishop of New Spain, Antonio Jimenez y Frias said that he was “a miner distinguished for his charity, rare in his virtue, exceptional for his humility, a phoenix for his liberal views and, in a word, a hero of the rich miners of this America. There is a parchment signed by Benedict XIV dedicated to the miner referring to him as a friend. However, he is also remembered as one who made his fortune by cruelly exploiting native labor.