By John S. Huff

In April 1775, Paul Revere made his famous ride. Four months later, the site for the Spanish Presidio (fort) San Augustin del Tucson was established by a red-headed Irishman, Hugo O’Conor, who was a Colonel in the Spanish Army. This is his story. It is also the story of Tucson and how this very important Arizona city has been influenced for centuries by many cultures.

Born Hugh O’Conor in Dublin, Ireland, in 1734, he was the second son of a notable Catholic family. He was descended from Roderic O’Conor, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. This heredity was to earn the title of ‘Don’ in later years, the equivalent of ‘Sir.’

The 1700s was the midst of the Penal Codes imposed by England to discourage Catholicism. As a second son, Hugh stood little chance of inheriting the family headship. At 16, he rebelled and fled from Ireland to Catholic Spain, where thousands of Irishmen had fled in the 17th and 18th centuries. Hugh’s cousin, Alexander O’Reilly, 12 years his senior, had already established himself as a superior soldier in King Charles III’s army. O’Reilly took young Hugh under his wing. Hugh changed his name to Hugo and became a subaltern, studying the language, military tactics, writing skills, etc. Promotions were slow and any favors may have gone to Spanish officers.

Service in the Seven Years’ War with Portugal changed all that with Hugo and his cousin, Alexander, finding favor in the eyes of the King. O’Reilly was eventually promoted to Field Marshal and O’Conor to Sergeant Major (third-ranking officer of the Regiment.). With these successes, O’Reilly was ordered to Cuba taking O’Conor with him to organize a professional militia for Spanish Cuba. O’Conor participated in the training of the militia, engaged in all of the surveys of Cuban defenses and the general work of assisting his cousin for the next two years.

New Spain included, from 1521 to 1821 what is now the southwest U.S., Mexico, Central America north of Panama, some West Indian Islands and the Philippines. It was ruled from Mexico City by a Viceroy governing on behalf of the King of Spain. The new Viceroy, Antonio de Bucareli, was an old friend of O’Reilly. He requested, in 1765, that O’Reilly send skilled officers to Mexico to organize the Spanish military forces there. O’Conor was one of those officers. Marshal O’Reilly remained as the Governor General of Cuba.

Five months after his arrival in Mexico, O’Conor was ordered by the Viceroy to investigate a report of scandal in the San Antonio area of what later became Texas. The flaming red-headed Irishman investigated and deposed the governor of Texas for graft. In 1767, he was appointed the interim governor of Texas for his excellent performance and trustworthiness.

Meanwhile, King Charles III ordered a survey of Spanish defenses in New Spain. The objective was to strengthen the frontiers and protect mining operations in northern Mexico. Spanish settlements at the northern boundaries were threatened by French, Russian and English activities, not to mention the Apaches. The survey was to examine locations of the presidios (forts), conditions in the Spanish settlements and the external threats. Viceroy Bucareli appointed O’Conor to lead the survey. He visited each presidio from east to west, fighting the Apaches as he progressed. O’Conor selected new sites or strengthened old ones as he moved through Texas and inventoried the forces and equipment at each of the 23 sites (17 were left when he completed his assignment). Each presidio was to be a day’s journey apart to sustain each other against attacks. O’Conor often found that he had to gather forces from the presidios to rescue women, children, horses and cattle from the Apache warriors.

As an Apache fighter, military critics have placed him above or on a par with Generals Crook and Miles. The Apaches gave O’Conor a title of respect as "el Capitán Colorado” (“the Red Captain”) for his red hair and ferociousness. He was a Lieutenant Colonel, rather than Captain, at this time in 1771.

In Part II next week, Hugo O’Conor arrives in the area of what is now Tucson in the summer of 1775.

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