Researching Francisco Vega

Cajigal was lieutenant general in the royal army and a knight of the Order of Santiago. He was appointed as governor of Cuba in 1747.

He was governor of Cuba in 1760 at the time of the death of the previous viceroy, Agustín de Ahumada. The Audiencia possessed sealed orders to be opened on the death of Ahumada, and these named Cajigal to fill the position on an interim basis. He sailed from Havana for Veracruz on March 28, 1760. He remained in Veracruz a few days awaiting the arrival of the vehicle intended to take him to Mexico City. He made his solemn entry into Mexico City on April 28, 1760 and took up the government.

He worked to reform the accounting at the treasury. He removed the sales tax on products of iron and steel to stimulate construction and the mining of that metal. To augment revenue, he sold the monopoly on the production of playing cards and farmed out the collection of customs duties at Veracruz for five years. Other measures spurred the economy of La Florida and Panzacola (Pensacola).

He increased the regular army of New Spain to 2,921 men. He named his son, Juan Manuel, commander of the cavalry company of the viceregal guards.

On the ascension of Charles III to the Spanish throne, a general amnesty was declared. In New Spain, at least, it did not free many prisoners because there were many exceptions.

This viceroy was not considered very honorable. He insisted on a very high salary (at the rate of 40,000 pesos per year) and huge expenses for his return journey from Mexico to Havana (6,000 pesos).

He turned over the government of the colony to his successor, Joaquín de Montserrat, marqués de Cruillas on October 5, 1760 and returned to Havana, where he took up his old position.

He was born in Secadura, Cantabria, son of Garci Laso de la Vega and María de Alvarado. He was a descendant of the Cantabrian House of Lasso de la Vega. He served in the Royal Navy for five years from 1606. He went to Flanders for 16 years, where he was in many military actions in the Dutch Revolt and was promoted to captain of infantry. He participated and distinguished himself in the sieges of Bergan op Zoom, Bersel and Breda.

In 1623 he entered the Order of Santiago. In 1625 he returned to Spain, as a captain of cavalry, served as a judge in Badajoz, and was preparing to take the governorship of Jerez de la Frontera, when he was appointed Governor of Chile.

He served as governor between 1629 and 1639. His government was very successful against the warlike Mapuche in the Arauco War, defeating them in the Battle of La Albarrada. He also refounded the city of Angol, with families from the Fort of Santa Lucía de Yumbel, in 1637.

Ill in the last years of his term, he returned to Peru, suffering from edema, pausing in Santiago because of an attack. He remained six months there, and died soon after arriving at Lima, in 1640.