Luis Luis Ben y Horruitiner

Background

Don Luis Ben y Horruitiner was born in Saragossa, Aragon (Spain), to Mosén Gilbert Ben de Huessa and María de Hurrutinel.

Career

He had a brother, Mosén Gilbert Ben y Horruitiner. Resident in Saint Augustine, Florida, was during long time a rancher, whose family land covered along the Saint Johns River. In 1625, he exerted as governor of the Presidio of Cartagena (modern Colombia) and, on 1630, he was Alcaide of Castillo del Morro, in Habana, Cuba.

On July 29, 1633, he was appointed governor of Florida, so as Viceroy of Sardinia (in modern Italy), in this time, a Spanish possession.

The Friars may have become around 6,000 people and they remained there for many years, being their conversions known even for the subsequent governor Damián de Vega, Castro, y Pardo (1639 - 1645 He wrote a letter to Spain´s King indicating it), because the friars continued exerting in this time. In 1635 there were over 30,000 converts between 44 doctrinas, administered by 39 friars.

Likely one of the first Apalachee missions established by these missionaries in 1633 was Anhaica, that may have been founed as San Luis in honor to Luis Horruytiner, who ruled Florida at that time. Foreign help the mission, Hurruytiner made a sea expedition to find a nearby port to the mission that could supply it, replacing land routes, which were long and arduous.

So, he sent the first ships to exert that mission, which located the port in the mouth of Saint Mark´s River.

Luis de Horruytiner left the office of Governor of Florida on November 26, 1638, being replaced by Castro, y Pardo.

Achievements

• So, he gathered the leaders of each war parties and he achieved a peace agreement between all parties, a successful deal.