Francisco Torralbo

Who was Francisco Torralbo?

Francisco Torralbo y Robles, acting governor of Puerto Rico, brigadier general, King's Lieutenant of Puerto Rico.

He served as Spanish governor of Puerto Rico on two occasions, 1789 and 1792–1793, both ad interim. The first occasion occurred after governor Juan Dabán y Busterino was recalled to Spain; the second was similarly a consequence of governor Miguel Antonio de Ustariz's return to the Peninsula following his physical indisposition, a permanent replacement would be, in effect, Field Marshal Ramón de Castro, owing to the sudden death in Mexico of the Crown's original choice, Brigadier General Enrique de Grimarest, which occurred after his appointment but before he could assume the post. During his interimships Torralbo dealt with the consequences of the ongoing French Revolution, especially through its manifestations on the neighboring French colonies of Saint Domingue and Martinique. After retiring Torralbo spent the remainder of his life in Puerto Rico and was buried in the Chapel of San Vicente Ferrer of the Convent of the Predicators in San Juan.

Colonel Francisco Torralbo was born in the Principality of Catalonia.