Francisco López de Osornio Merlo

Capitán Francisco López de Osornio y Merlo
Personal details
Born	Francisco López de Osornio y Merlo de la Mota 1681 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died	1756 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Spouse(s)	María Gamiz de las Cuevas
Children	Domingo López de Osornio Lorenzo López de Osornio María Josefa López de Osornio Tomasa López de Osornio Juana Rosa López de Osornio Justa López de Osornio Faustina López de Osornio Clemente López de Osornio Pascual López de Osornio
Parent(s)
Occupation	army landowner
Profession	military man
Military service
Allegiance	Spanish Empire
Branch/service	Spanish Army
Years of service	1700-1750
Rank	Captain
Unit	Fuerte de Buenos Aires
Commands	Milicias Provinciales de Buenos Aires

Francisco López de Osornio Merlo (1681 – 1756) was a Spanish military leader and landowner, who served during the Viceroyalty of Peru as Captain of the provincial militias of Buenos Aires.^[1]

Biography[]

He was born on September 7, 1681 in Buenos Aires, the son of Francisco López Osornio and Tomasa Merlo, belonging to an illustrious family of Spanish and Creole origin. He was married on September 11, 1701 in Metropolitan Cathedral to María Gamiz de las Cuevas,^[2] daughter of Pedro Gamiz de las Cuevas and Tomasa Álvarez de Lasarte, a distinguished Spanish family from Madrid.^[3] His son Clemente López de Osornio, a landowner belonging to the Spanish Army, died assassinated during an indigenous incursion to the Province of Buenos Aires.^[4]

He had an active participation in the military expeditions aimed at controlling the indigenous advance towards the Province of Buenos Aires. He held the honorific post of Alférez Real of the city, being the one in charge to carry the Estandarte Real in the day of Saint Martin of Tours.^[5]

In 1726 he had served as commander of the Fort of Barragán, place where had ordered the construction of the first chapel.^[6]

References[]