Francisco Álvarez Campana

Francisco Álvarez Campana was born in Cádiz (Spain), the son of Bernardo Alvarez Campana y Montes de Oca and Josefa Manuela Vega Olivera, belonging to illustrious Andalusian families from El Puerto de Santa María and the Isla de León.[4] His brother, José Álvarez Campana, a knight belonging to the order Order of Santiago, served as alcalde ordinario of Veracruz in 1737.[5]

In 1754, Campana was designated as Hermano Mayor of the Cofradía de la Santa Caridad.[6] That same year he requested to the Council of the Cabildo authorization for the construction of the Casa de Niñas Huérfanas (School of Orphans). The authorization for the foundation of the home of charity came through the royal cedula of 16 October 1754. He also requested the council to notify the King of the need to build a care home for homeless and an hospital of the Charity in the College[7] The house of orphans had a room with thirteen beds for women, attended by the slaves and orphans of the college.[8]

For the year of 1754, Campana asked the City Council to suspend the bullfights that were to take place during the celebration of the Jubilee.[9] In 1760 Francisco Álvarez Campana is appointed to occupy the position of Regidor[10] and later as Procurador General (attorney general) of the city of Buenos Aires.[11] Campana was owner of the hacienda known by the name of "Rincón de Campana", where he dedicated himself to the breeding of cattle.[12] He also dedicated himself to commerce, and by 1765 he installed a tannery on the banks of Riachuelo. His factory caused serious ecological damages in the area.[13]

In 1766, Campana was arrested by royal order for having acquired property on behalf of another person. The government of Buenos Aires had confiscated all his properties located in the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of Peru.[14] He regained his liberty in 1771, requesting permission of the authorities, to return to take charge of the direction of the Escuela Huérfanas.[15]

On 18 April 1875, the brothers Eduardo and Luis Costa founded the town of Campana (Buenos Aires Province) in honor of Francisco Álvarez Campana, who was the first owner of these lands in 1757.[16]

Francisco Álvarez Campana was married on 17 October 1762, to Isabel Gil Rodríguez,[17] daughter of Nicolás Gil, born in Galicia (died by the Indians in the crossing of Chile) and Bartola Rodríguez Osorio.[18] Campana and his wife were the parents of Timoteo Alvarez Campana, José Miguel Álvarez Campana and Ana Eusebia Álvarez Campana.[19]

• Bautismos 1752–1775
• www.campana.gov.ar