Hugo O'Conor

Hugh O'Conor, born in Ireland in 1734 during a period of English domination, left at age 16 to serve in the Spanish military, one of many Irish patriots known as the Wild Geese who sought Spain's help against English rule and faced death by hanging if captured by the English. He became a successful and respected officer serving in Spain, the Caribbean, and New Spain of Mexico, and though he never returned to Ireland, he found comfort in his adopted country and became known as Hugo O'Conor, "The Red Captain." Whether that nickname came from battles with the Apache and Comanche, his red hair, or the red coat he wore, he served Spain and its allies, the Pima and other Native Americans, with dignity and conviction. On August 20, 1775, as Commandant Inspector General of the Interior Provinces of New Spain, he founded Tucson's presidio near the Pima village of San Agustin de Tucson. Before his death at age 44, he had risen to the rank of Brigadier General and Governor of the Yucatan and was regarded by his superiors as a brilliant military strategist.

Tucson, Arizona · United States