Manuel Ruiz Urriés de Castilla

[1] Born in Spain, he moved to the Viceroyalty of Peru, where he was mayor of Paruro and colonel of militias, during the Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II.

He distinguished himself in 1781, commanding one of the columns that attacked the rebels in Tungasuca, receiving the rank of Army colonel on 15 October 1783.

He occupied that government until September 1806, when he handed over command to his successor, Francisco Muñoz de San Clemente, and on 14 May 1807, he was named president of the Real Audiencia of Quito.

Faced with the advance of Arredondo's Royalist troops coming from Lima, the Junta returned him to command (28 October 1809) on condition of a total amnesty, an agreement that infuriated Viceroy Abascal and wasn't respected.

The advanced age of Ruiz de Castilla (76) made him an easy prey to the intrigues of the Patriots, accepting the position of president of the Second Government Junta of Quito on 22 September 1810.