Mateo Leal de Ayala (1579-1627) was a Spanish army officer and politician, who served during the Viceroyalty of Peru as alcalde,[1] teniente de gobernador and gobernador of Buenos Aires and Paraguay.

[3] He possibly studied in Spain, and settled in the Spanish Colonies of America around 1598.

[4] In early seventeenth century, Ayala arrived at Buenos Aires from the Peru, and acquired a large estate of 500 rods of land, in the area of Pago de la Matanza.

[5] In Buenos Aires, he held the highest political positions, being designated the 27 of December 1613 as governor of the Río de la Plata and Paraguay.

[6] He also served as alguazil mayor of the city,[7] and was elected alcalde in first vote of Buenos Aires in 1621.