Naturalist: Antonio de Ulloa

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History

The following article, among eleven others, is part of the 2014 educational calendar produced by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) in Thibodaux. This calendar, a tidal graph calendar produced annually, typically presents information related to historic landmarks, wildlife, and culture of the area. This year's entries focus on Louisiana naturalists, from colonial times to the twentieth century. Written by BTNEP's Andrew Barron and reproduced for Country Roads readers with BTNEP's permission, these articles highlight the rich biodiversity of our state and the individuals who've spent their lives documenting and/or protecting it.

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Antonio de Ulloa y de la Torre-Girault was born in Seville, Spain on January 12, 1716 and died July 3, 1795. He was a scientist, author, astronomer, explorer, naturalist, Spanish general, and the first Spanish governor of Louisiana. In 1735, while in the navy, he became part of the French Geodesic Mission and, together with Jorge Juan, led a scientific expedition to record a degree of meridian arc at the equator in Ecuador between 1736 and 1744. During this expedition, the two Spaniards discovered the metal platinum.

On the return trip, de Ulloa was captured by the British and held prisoner before befriending English men of science and becoming a Fellow of the Royal Academy of London. Upon release, he returned to Spain and published his journal of the trip to Ecuador in English as A Voyage to South America in 1748. Back in Spain, he held prominent scientific commissions and made many scientific contributions, including the first museum of natural history, the first metallurgical laboratory, and the astronomical observatory at Cadiz. Between 1758 and 1764 he became governor of Huancavelica in Peru, managing the quicksilver mines there for Spain. In 1784, he published his scientific findings from the Peru trip as Relación histórica del viaje á la América Meridional, wherein he gave detailed descriptions of the landscape, flora, fauna, and native cultures of Peru.

In March of 1766, he arrived in New Orleans to become the first Spanish governor of Louisiana until he was forced out by French, Cajun, and Creole colonists, who refused to recognize Spanish rule during The Louisiana Rebellion of 1768. During his time as Louisiana governor, another Louisiana naturalist, Louis Jacques Judice, served under him as commandant. The remainder of his time was spent in the Spanish navy until eventually retiring and dying in Cadiz.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_de_Ulloa