Cuervo y Valdés was born on June 16, 1651, in Santa María de Grado (in Asturias, Spain).

In 1698, Cuervo y Valdés served as lieutenant governor of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila (in what is now modern Mexico).

[4][2] In 1704, Cuervo y Valdés was appointed acting governor of New Mexico by the Viceroy of New Spain, Francisco Fernández de la Cueva Enríquez, Duke of Alburquerque.

[2] Cuervo y Valdés led troops against the Apaches, but the number of soldiers was too small to effectively defend the territory.

[1] With the soldiers in need of supplies, Cuervo y Valdés again requested assistance from the viceroy in securing weapons, ammunition, and clothing.