Luis Merlo de la Fuente

He went to America, specifically Panama, in 1588 in the capacity of an oidor or judge, later travelling to Lima, Peru.

From there the viceroy at the time, García Hurtado de Mendoza, 5th Marquis of Cañete, sent him to Santiago, Chile to judge the governor, Alonso de Sotomayor, for possible misconduct.

When Philip III wanted to reinstate the Real Audiencia in Chile, he was selected as one of the oidores which compose that type of body.

The members of the Audiencia arrived in Santiago by April 24, 1609, and were installed by September 9 of the same year.

During this period Merlo de la Fuente faced a rising by the Mapuche Indians, who tried to take advantage of the death of the previous governor.