Among his several successful businesses, he had a soap factory partnership with Hipólito Vieytes, which was a centre of conspirators during the revolution against Spanish rule.

He was a member of the local militia in the British invasions of the Río de la Plata (1806 and 1807), and after taking part as promoter and financier of the May Revolution, he collaborated in the formation of the Primera Junta.

Was secretary to Castelli, and went with him in the liberation army's expedition to Córdoba, where he authorized the death by firing squad of the previous viceroy Santiago de Liniers.

After fighting at the Battle of Suipacha he entered Upper Peru, where he was for a short time governor of La Paz.

In 1814 he was named first governor delegate of the Eastern Province (present-day Uruguay), a post he held for only a short time.