Fernando de Villanueva

Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris was a Spanish soldier, judge, and politician who served as governor of Spanish New Mexico between 1665 and 1668.

Fernando Villanueva y Armendaris was born in the early 17th century in San Sebastin, in Quetzaltenango. He was the son of Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris and Clara de Irigoyen. In 1630 when he was likely still a teenager, he was enlisted in the Spanish Royal Army of Ocean sea. In the army, he was earning a bonus of two gold escudos. In 1634, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in the army of Catalonia. There, he fought against the French, which attempted to invade Leocata , and he successfully drove out the besieging army. In April 1637, he joined the Royal Indian Navy, where he fought in Algarve . Also, he received the charge of soldier in the presidio, on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, while in the army.

Source: Wikipedia