Barrio Junco y Espriella, Pedro de (unknown–unknown)

Pedro de Barrio Junco y Espriella, son of Felipe de Barrio Junco y Espriella and Ana María Noriega Rubín de Celis, was born in Cardozo, Llanes, Asturias. He was the provincial alcalde of the Santa Hermandad of all New Spain and became governor ad interim of Texas on June 3, 1748. He had been governor of Nuevo León for six years and conducted many Indian campaigns. On the whole he was unsympathetic with the mission interests and opposed without success the location of the San Xavier missions on the site selected by the friars. His administration was arbitrary, and for a time he imprisoned the first regidor of San Antonio. After being accused of disregarding the royal cédula prohibiting gambling and of engaging in illegal trade with the French, he was removed from office late in 1750, and the charges against him were investigated. His last official appointment appears to have been as captain of Paso del Norte Presidio on March 27, 1765. He was married to María Antonia Rodríguez, and they had two children.