Antonio María De Bucareli Y Ursúa

Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa (24 January 1717 – 9 April 1779) was a Spanish military officer, governor of Cuba, and Viceroy of New Spain from 1771 until his death in 1779. His military service included campaigns in Italy and Portugal. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general while serving as inspector of coastal fortifications in Granada. In 1766, Bucareli entered the Spanish colonial administration as governor and captain general of Cuba.

His record there earned him appointment as viceroy of New Spain in 1771. Bucareli's accomplishments as viceroy included the pacifying of Indian revolts in the north, the elimination of bands of criminals that had roamed freely throughout the country, and the construction of forts at Acapulco, Perote, and Acordada. He also fostered projects to drain the Valley of Mexico, reformed the system of taxation, and promoted improvements in minting currency and in establishing fixed weights for coins.

He encouraged the exploration and settlement of Alta California, authorizing the founding of Los Angeles, and dispatched a naval expedition to Alaska. Bucareli has been recognized as one of the most effective eighteenth-century viceroys of New Spain. He was a capable and efficient administrator who made significant contributions to the expansion and development of New Spain.