Andrés de San Miguel, Fray 1577-1644?

Architect and Carmelite friar. Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in 1577 in Medinasidonia, Spain; died circa 1644 in Guanajuato, Mexico. First sailed to New Spain in 1593, staying briefly in Veracruz. He was shipwrecked in the Caribbean and stranded in Florida, where he vowed to join the Carmelite religious order if rescued. He returned to Spain in 1595 but went back to New Spain in 1597, settling in Puebla. He joined the Carmelites in 1598, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. His first construction, the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe, was begun in 1606. He built the Convento de San Ángel, considered his master work, in 1615 and began construction of the Monasterio de Querétaro in 1618. Between 1629 and 1632, he built monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and Salvatierra, as well as a bridge over the Lerma River. From 1632 he lived in Mexico City, working on draining the valley. He died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, circa 1644.

From the description of Andrés de San Miguel manuscripts, [16--]-[18--]. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 31775792

Architect and Carmelite friar. Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in 1577 in Medinasidonia, Spain; died circa 1644 in Guanajuato, Mexico. First sailed to New Spain in 1593, staying briefly in Veracruz. He was shipwrecked in the Caribbean and stranded in Florida, where he vowed to join the Carmelite religious order if rescued. He returned to Spain in 1595 but went back to New Spain in 1597, settling in Puebla. He joined the Carmelites in 1598, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. His first construction, the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe, was begun in 1606. He built the Convento de San Ángel, considered his master work, in 1615 and began construction of the Monasterio de Querétaro in 1618. Between 1629 and 1632, he built monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and Salvatierra, as well as a bridge over the Lerma River. From 1632 he lived in Mexico City, working on draining the valley. He died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, circa 1644.

His written works include Qué cosa sea la arquitectura, De los cimientos de los edificios, Descripción del templo de Salomón, Fábrica de los relojes horizontales, Algunos tratados de astronomía, Tratado de plantas y frutas de la huerta del Colegio de San Angel, Chimalistae, and Informe acerca del desagüe de México.

• 1577: Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in Medinasidonia, Spain.
• 1593: Sailed to New Spain, landing briefly in Veracruz. Shipwrecked in the Caribbean and eventually stranded in Florida, he vowed to join the Order of the Carmelites if rescued.
• 1595: Returned to Spain.
• 1597: Sailed to New Spain, this time settling in Puebla.
• 1598: Joined the Carmelites, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. Continued to practice architecture.
• 1606: Began his first contruction--the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe. Not completed until 1610 or 1614.
• 1615: Built his “master work”: the Convento de San Angel.
• 1618: Began construction of the Monasterio de Querétero.
• 1629 - 1632 : Constructed monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and (his last) Salvatierra. Built a bridge spanning the Lerma River on the road between Mexico City and Toluca.
• 1632: From this date on lived in Mexico City, working to drain the valley.
• 1644: Died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato.

From the guide to the Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts 31775792., (Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)