José Alfonso Pizarro

Who was José Alfonso Pizarro?

José Alfonso Pizarro, Marqués del Villar was a Spanish naval officer and colonial administrator. From November 6, 1749 to November 24, 1753 he was viceroy of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Granada.

As a youth he entered the naval service of the Knights of Malta. He was a knight of the Order and gentleman of the bedchamber of the king. Later he served in the Spanish navy, rising to the rank of rear admiral.

When the Spanish government heard of the expedition of British Admiral George Anson to the Pacific, a fleet of two ships of the line and four frigates was despatched with a regiment of infantry for Chile. The fleet, under Pizarro's command, left in October 1740, and arrived on January 5, 1741 in the Río de la Plata. Hearing that Anson was refitting in Santa Catharina for entering the Pacific by the Strait of Le Maire, Pizarro sailed at once to intercept him. His squadron consisting of the ships Asia, Guipúzcoa, Hermione and Esperanza and the frigate San Estéban. However, he lost one ship and one frigate in a storm and was obliged to put back for repairs. On the second attempt, with two vessels, he was again dismasted and returned to Montevideo.