PÉREZ DE ALMAZÁN, JUAN ANTONIO (?-?). Juan Antonio Pérez de Almazán was captain of San Antonio de Béxar Presidio in 1730, when he led an expedition of presidial soldiers against an attacking force of 500 Apache Indians. In March 1731 he received the Canary Islanders, made provision for the new settlers, laid out a place for their homes, and established a municipal government. On August 1, when the new city council met to elect alcaldes, he presided at what was probably the first election held in Texas. On September 18 he led another attack on the Apaches in a battle that was almost disastrous for the mission and the young settlement. Pérez de Almazán asked for an expedition against the Indians, which was granted and carried out under Governor Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos in 1732.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Carlos E. Castañeda, Our Catholic Heritage in Texas (7 vols., Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1936-58; rpt., New York: Arno, 1976). William Edward Dunn, "Apache Relations in Texas, 1718-1750," Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association 14 (January 1911). Elizabeth Howard West, trans., "Bonilla's Brief Compendium of the History of Texas, 1772," Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association 8 (July 1904).