A native of Bilbao, Salcedo pursued a military career and served as an officer in the defense of the Lordship of Biscay in the Seven Years' War.

[1] By the late 1760s, he was serving in North Africa with postings in Spanish ports of Ceuta and Melilla, before being transferred to the Canary Islands.

[2] In 1776, the arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he was to remain for twenty years, rising to the position of teniente del rey (lieutenant to the king).

[1][3] In July 1797, Salcedo participated in the successful defense of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, capturing 29 British soldiers.

His predecessor, Casa Calvo, assisted him in the transfer of power to the new French governor, Pierre Clément de Laussat on November 30, 1803.