[1][2] Velazquez was born in Mexico City, a descendant of Don Antonio De La Cadena Maluenda (Anusim), Treasurer of New Spain 1525.
Velazquez was unwilling to identify with either of the contending parties and thus resolved to settle in New York, where his scholarly career began.
Aside from teaching, he was a member of learned societies in Europe and the United States and author of Spanish school-books and Spanish-English language dictionaries.
Edward Gray revised the first edition, creating A New Pronouncing Dictionary of the Spanish and English Languages almost a half century later.
Several revisions have been made to Velazquez's first edition, the most recent by Velázquez Press in 2003, helping it remain a venerable dictionary throughout the world.