Andres Almonaster y Rojas

Don Andrés Almonaster y Roxas de Estrada (June 19, 1724 in Mairena del Alcor, Spain – April 26, 1798 in New Orleans, Luisiana) was a Spanish civil servant and philanthropist of New Orleans, today chiefly remembered for his numerous charitable benefactions made to the city of New Orleans. Biography Born of a noble Andalusian family, as the son of Don Miguel José de Almonester and Maria Juana Roxas de Estrada, Almonester married, first, Maria Paula Rita del Rosario Martinez, in 1748, Paula died shortly after delivering their first child, who had not survived birth. Almonester arrived to Louisiana in 1769, during its early days of Spanish rule, appointed escribano publico or notary public, which Grace King described as "an office rich in salary, perquisites, and business opportunities. He soon acquired wealth in it, or through it." Among his investments was a large tract of land downtown, purchased from Governor O'Reilly on perpetual lease. Once in New Orleans, Andres Almonaster obtained the position of notary under the orders of the governor Luis de Unzaga. After the fire of April 1771, then Almonaster with the positions of secretary, accountant and recorder of Governor Unzaga, would both have to re-plan part of this city urbanistically and constructing the main buildings of what will be the capital of Louisiana. Almonester became an alcalde or city councilman for Louisiana (New Spain)'s governing authority, the Cabildo, and afterwards bought the office of Alferez Real or royal standard bearer. He was made Knight of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III in 1796. His nearest allies appear to have been Governor Esteban Rodríguez Miró, Père Antoine (Antonio de Sedella), and the de La Ronde family, to which he later joined through marriage.