Jose de Escandon was born in spain on May 19, 1700. Escandon was known as the colonizer and first governor of the colony of Nuevo Santander. he founded over twenty towns or villas and a number of missions in the colony, including Camargo, Reynosa, Mier, and Revilla. For his colonization efforts Escandon is sometimes called the "father" of the lower Rio Grande valley.
Escandon received his early education in his native town. At the age of fifteen he arrived at Merida, Yucatan, where he served as a cadet in the Mounted Encomenderos Company. In 1727 he subdued an Indian uprising in Celaya and received the rank of sergeant at Queretaro, since he had been successful in pacifying the Indians. In 1746 Escandon was commissioned to inspect the country between Tampico and the San Antonio River, later known as Nuevo Santander. In January 1747 he sent seven divisions into the area, and in October he presented a colonization plan. After delays by the Spanish Bureaucracy, Escandon was made governor and captain general of Nuevo Santander on June 1, 1748. In 1749 he was made Count of Sierra Gorda and Knight of the Oder of Santiago by Fernando VI, and he began establishing settlements along the Rio Grande. The first two were Camargo (founded on March 5) and Rynosa (March 14). On August 22, 1750, Escandon granted Jose Vazquez Borrego fifty sitios for the founding of Dolores, and on October 10 he sent Vicente Guerra to set up Revilla, twenty leagues northwest of Camargo. On March 6, 1753, Escandon Founded the town of Mier, and in 1755 he granted permission to Tomas Sanchez de la Barrera Y Garza to founded Laredo, the largest and most successful permanent Spanish settlement in Southwest Texas.
On April 30, 1727, Escandon married Dominga Pedrajo in Soto de la Marina, province of Santander, Spain, She was the daughter of Juan Manuel de Pedrajo and Dominga de Revilla. She died in 1736, and in 1737 Escandon married Maria Josefa de Llera from Queretaro. They had seven children. After the appointment of a royal commission in 1767, the settlers of Nuevo Santander were assigned the land grants that Escandon had promised them. Grants were made to residents of the colonies of the Rio Grande, thus starting the colonization of South Texas from the Rio Grande to the San Antonio River. Jose de Escandon was accused by Diego Corrido of maladministration, and he had to leave for Mexico City to defend himself. He died during the trial, on September 10, 1770, and was buried in Mexico City in 1773 his son Manuel Ignacio de Escandon y Llera petitioned the court for a settlement; a decision rendered by the court completely exonerated the count.
Escandon received his early education in his native town. At the age of fifteen he arrived at Merida, Yucatan, where he served as a cadet in the Mounted Encomenderos Company. In 1727 he subdued an Indian uprising in Celaya and received the rank of sergeant at Queretaro, since he had been successful in pacifying the Indians. In 1746 Escandon was commissioned to inspect the country between Tampico and the San Antonio River, later known as Nuevo Santander. In January 1747 he sent seven divisions into the area, and in October he presented a colonization plan. After delays by the Spanish Bureaucracy, Escandon was made governor and captain general of Nuevo Santander on June 1, 1748. In 1749 he was made Count of Sierra Gorda and Knight of the Oder of Santiago by Fernando VI, and he began establishing settlements along the Rio Grande. The first two were Camargo (founded on March 5) and Rynosa (March 14). On August 22, 1750, Escandon granted Jose Vazquez Borrego fifty sitios for the founding of Dolores, and on October 10 he sent Vicente Guerra to set up Revilla, twenty leagues northwest of Camargo. On March 6, 1753, Escandon Founded the town of Mier, and in 1755 he granted permission to Tomas Sanchez de la Barrera Y Garza to founded Laredo, the largest and most successful permanent Spanish settlement in Southwest Texas.
On April 30, 1727, Escandon married Dominga Pedrajo in Soto de la Marina, province of Santander, Spain, She was the daughter of Juan Manuel de Pedrajo and Dominga de Revilla. She died in 1736, and in 1737 Escandon married Maria Josefa de Llera from Queretaro. They had seven children. After the appointment of a royal commission in 1767, the settlers of Nuevo Santander were assigned the land grants that Escandon had promised them. Grants were made to residents of the colonies of the Rio Grande, thus starting the colonization of South Texas from the Rio Grande to the San Antonio River. Jose de Escandon was accused by Diego Corrido of maladministration, and he had to leave for Mexico City to defend himself. He died during the trial, on September 10, 1770, and was buried in Mexico City in 1773 his son Manuel Ignacio de Escandon y Llera petitioned the court for a settlement; a decision rendered by the court completely exonerated the count.