Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Fimes Villalpando, Ambrosio de

FIMES VILLALPANDO, Ambrosio de (fee-mes), count of Ricla, captain-general of Cuba, b. in Zaragoza, Spain, in 1720; d. in Madrid in 1780. He entered the army, and in 1760 represented Spain at the court of Russia. In July, 1763, after the peace between England and Spain was signed at Paris, the count of Ricla took possession of the island of Cuba, in the name of the king of Spain, as governor and captain-general. He filled this high office until September, 1766, and during his short administration repaired the fortifications of the city of Havana, laid the foundations of the great fortress known as “La Cabaña,” organized the department of finances, the police, the militia, the hospitals, and in 1764 founded “La Gaceta de la Havana.” One of the most important streets in Havana is called for him “Calle de Ricla.”