Juan de Salinas y Zenitagoya

His father was Diego Salinas, a man of Basque descent who was sent to the Americas as governor of Yaguarzongo, and his mother was Maria de Zenitagoya, from a wealthy Quito family.

Returning from this campaign around 1778, he was sent with Apolinar Diez de la Fuente, who had just opened a route from Quito to Quijos in the Amazon, to define the border with Brazil.

Once recovered he spent the next few years exploring the Amazonian jungle, but in 1783 he became ill again and was ordered back to the highlands, where he was stationed in the military garrison of the Royal Audiencia of Quito.

Salinas was given the rank of colonel by the Junta, while the Marques de Selva Alegre, somewhat forcedly,[clarification needed] was given overall command of the government and the small army.

The noble (titled) leaders were uncomfortable with the radical turn the revolt had taken, as they had wanted better treatment from Madrid, not a complete severing of ties from the mother country.

Salinas's youngest daughter Maria del Carmen, who was born while he was in captivity, married Manuel de Ascásubi, who also took part in the independence process and helped in the formation of the young Ecuadorian nation.

The family was persecuted and their holdings expropriated until the War of Independence ended in 1822, and the victorious Marshal Antonio José de Sucre returned to Salinas's heirs all that had been taken.