Born of a noble Andalusian family, being the son of Don Miguel José Almonester and Maria Joanna de Estrada y Rojas, he came to Louisiana in 1769, during the early days of the Spanish rule there, and was appointed escribano publico or notary public.
As Grace King puts it, it was "an office rich in salary, perquisites, and business opportunities. He soon acquired wealth in it, or through lieutenant" Among his investments was a large tract of land downtown, purchased from Governor O"Reilly on perpetual lease. He became an alcalde or city councilman, and afterwards bought the office of alferez real or royal standard bearer.
He provided the funds for building New Orleans" new parish church, in which he is buried.
The Church of Saint Louis was dedicated in 1794, becoming a cathedral the following year, and was never pulled down as some sources may say. In 1849 the cathedral was badly damaged due to the removal of supports which led to the collapse of the center tower.
This led to the 1850s remodeled structure as we know it today. After the fire of 1788, he built at his own expense a public school for the city, as well as the house for the use of the clergy and the charity hospital at the then-considerable cost of $114,000.
He rebuilt the buildings on either side of the cathedral, the hospital, the boys" school, a chapel for the Ursulines.
And he founded the leper hospital. New Orleans" Almonaster Avenue is named in his honor.
