Sigüenza y Góngora, Carlos de, 1645-1700

Poet, author, mathematician, historian, geographer. Born 1645 and died 1700 in Mexico City. Entered Society of Jesus 1660, took vows 1662, and left the order in 1667 or 1669. In 1672 became catedrático of astrology and mathematics at the University of Mexico. Ordained as priest in 1673. Chaplain of the Hospital del Amor de Dios from 1682 until his death. Wrote description of June 8, 1692, riot in protest of corn prices, during which he saved government archives from burning. As royal geographer Sigüenza participated in a 1692 expedition to Pensacola Bay; in 1693 he wrote Descripción del seno de Santa María de Galve, alias Panzacola, de la Mobila y del Río Misisipi. After a Spanish attempt to colonize Pensacola Bay in 1698 was thwarted by the French, Sigüenza was blamed by expedition leader Andrés de Arriola for inciting the French action; Sigüenza successfully defended himself against these charges in 1699. Other publications of his include: Parayso Occidental .. (1684) and Piedad heróica de don Hernando Cortés, Marqués del Valle (1689).

From the description of Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora Collection, 1686-1704. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 29948812

Poet, author, mathematician, historian, geographer. Born 1645 and died 1700 in Mexico City. Entered Society of Jesus 1660, took vows 1662, and left the order in 1667 or 1669. In 1672 became catedrático of astrology and mathematics at the University of Mexico. Ordained as priest in 1673. Chaplain of the Hospital del Amor de Dios from 1682 until his death.

Wrote description of June 8, 1692 riot in protest of corn prices, during which he saved government archives from burning.

As royal geographer, Sigüenza participated in a 1692 expedition to Pensacola Bay; in 1693 he wrote Descripción del seno de Santa María de Galve, alias Panzacola, de la Mobila y del Río Misisipi.

After a Spanish attempt to colonize Pensacola Bay in 1698 was thwarted by the French, Sigüenza was blamed by expedition leader Andrés de Arriola for inciting the French action; Sigüenza successfully defended himself against these charges in 1699.

Other publications of his include: Parayso Occidental... (1684) and Piedad heróica de don Hernando Cortés, Marqués del Valle (1689).

• 1645: born in Mexico City
• 20 Aug 1645: baptized in Cathedral of Mexico City
• 17 Aug 1660: entered Jesuit order as a novice
• 15 Aug 1662: took simple vows at Tepotzotlán
• 1662: published Oriental planeta evangélica, epopeya sacropanegyrica al apostol grande de las Indias S. Francisco Xavier...; published Primavera indiana, poema sacrohistórico, idea de María Santíssima de Guadalupe...
• 3 Aug 1667: left Jesuit order (Leonard, 9 Aug 1667; Porrüa, 1669) studied canon law, theology, and some Indian languages at the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
• 1668: second edition of Primavera indiana...
• 1671: produced an almanac
• 20 July 1672: awarded chair of Astronomy and Mathematics, Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
• 1672: produced an almanac
• 1673: received bachillerate in Arts, ordained a priest
• 1680: at Querétaro, received prize for poetry; published Teatro de virtudes políticas que constituyen a un Príncipe...; published Glorias de Querétaro en la Nueva Congregación Eclesiástica de María Santíssima de Guadalupe... y el sumptuoso templo...
• 1681: wrote Manifiesto philosóphico contra los cometas despojados del imperio que tenían sobre los tímidos, about the comet which appeared in Mexico; became involved in controversy
• 1682: named chaplain of the Hospital de Amor de Dios until his death; also made almoner (limosnero) of Archbishop of Mexico
• 1683: published Triunfo parthénico que en glorias de María Santíssima... celebró la... Academia Mexicana
• 1684: published Parayso Occidental, plantado y cultivado en su magnífico Real Convento de Jesüs María de México...
• 1689: published Piedad heróica de don Hernando Cortés, Marqués del Valle
• 1690: published Infortunios que Alonso Ramírez natural de la ciudad de S. Juan de Puerto Rico padeció... en poder de ingleses piratas...
• 1691: published Libra astronómica y philosóphica en que...examina... lo que a (Sigüenza's)Manifiesto... contra los Cometas... opuso el R. P. Eusebio Francisco Kino...
• 1691: published Relación de lo sucedido a la armada de Barlovento... victoria... contra los franceses...
• 1691: published Trofeo de la justicia española en el castigo de la alevosía francesa...
• 8 June 1692: “corn riot” in Mexico City; Sigüenza managed to save part of the archives and paintings in the burning Audiencia building
• 1692: named geographer to the King; made official member of the expedition under Captain Pes which explored the shores of the Bay of Pensacola in search of defensible frontiers
• 1693: wrote Descripción del seno de Santa Maria de Galve, alias Panzacola, de la Mobila y del Río Misisipi
• 1693: published Mercurio Volante con la noticia de la recuperación de las provincias del Nuevo México...
• 1694: retired with a promised pension from the University; apparently re-entered the Jesuit order; willed his library to the Jesuit Colegio de San Pedro y San Pablo
• 1695: wrote the Elogio fünebre de Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
• 1696: finally received University pension
• 15 Oct 1698: expedition under Arriola tried to colonize Pensacola Bay
• 2 Feb 1699: when French fleet reached Pensacola, Arriola returned to Mexico, blamed Sigüenza, involved Viceroy; Sigüenza defended his own 1693 account of the area and its potential, was exonerated
• Nov 1699: Sigüenza named Corregidor General (book examiner) for the Inquisition
• 1700: second edition of Oriental planeta evangélico...
• 22 Aug 1700: died in Mexico City of a kidney ailment, leaving a number of unpublished manuscripts which were subsequently lost

From the guide to the Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora Collection 29948812., 1686-1704, (Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)