Domingo Ortiz de Rosas, 1st Marquis of Poblaciones

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Domingo Ortiz de Rosas y García de Villasuso, 1st Marquis of Poblaciones (Spanish: Domingo Ortiz de Rosas y García de Villasuso, primer Marqués de Poblaciones) (1683–1756) was a Spanish soldier who served as governor of Chile.

As Governor of Chile

Ortiz de Rosas was Governor from 1746 to 1755, during which time he moved the city of Concepción from its old location (today's city of Penco) to its current place. In addition, he founded a number of cities:

  • Casablanca (Santa Bárbara de Casablanca)
  • Coelemu (Villa Jesús de Coelemu)
  • La Ligua (Santo Domingo de Rosas de la Ligua)
  • Petorca (Santa Ana de Briviescas)
  • Quirihue (San Antonio Abad de Quirihue)

Other notable acts undertaken during his government were the creation, on March 11, 1747, of the first University in the colonial territory of Chile: the Royal University of San Felipe (Real Universidad de San Felipe), of which the first rector was Tomás de Azúa e Iturgoyen. [1] This university would eventually become today's Universidad de Chile. He also established the penal colony on the Juan Fernández Islands.

Death

While on board the Spanish ship Leon, en route to Europe with his family, Ortiz de Rosas died on 29 June 1756. The ship's log records his age as 80. He was buried at sea the following morning.

Government offices
Preceded byMiguel de SalcedoRoyal Governor of Buenos Aires 1742–1745Succeeded byJosé de Andonaegui
Preceded byFrancisco José de OvandoRoyal Governor of Chile 1746–1755Succeeded byManuel de Amat y Juniet
Spanish nobility
Preceded byNew creationMarquis of Poblaciones 1747–1756Succeeded byJosé Ortiz de Rozas