Manuel Tolsá

In Spain he was the sculptor of the king's chamber, minister of the Supreme Junta of Commerce, Minting and Mines, and an academic in San Fernando.

In 1790 he was named director of sculpture at the recently created Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City.

He sailed from Cádiz in February, 1791, bringing with him to New Spain, in accordance with the king's instructions, books, instruments of his profession, and plaster copies of classic sculptures from the Vatican Museum.

He married María Luisa de Sanz Téllez Girón y Espinosa in the port of Veracruz.

He donated a collection of molds and figures and 300 medals and coins to the Academy of San Carlos.