coastal and overseas trade. He also repaired the aqueduct supplying Mexico City with water. The viceroy accelerated the construction of the new cathedral of Mexico City, visiting it every afternoon, climbing the scaffolding, and giving monetary rewards to the workers. During a visit to the cathedral on 12 March 1660, a 19-year-old soldier in the viceroy's guard, Manuel Ledesma y Robles of Madrid, attacked the viceroy with a sword. The viceroy survived. Justice was swift for his attacker, who was quickly tried, then dragged around the city and back to the Plaza Mayor, where he was hanged the next day. The city of Alburquerque (now spelled Albuquerque), in what is now New Mexico, was founded on February 7, 1706 (not 1660) under his son's direction. He granted land to more than 100 Spanish families there. The writers of this period attributed to his government a strong encouragement for the development of the sciences and the arts. His palace was considered a model of elegance and good taste. Later life He left New Spain for Madrid in September, 1660. Thereafter he was named lieutenant general of marines. He also served as ambassador extraordinary to Vienna to accompany Infanta Margaret Theresa of Spain, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, when she married her uncle, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1668 Fernández de la Cueva was named viceroy of Sicily, where he remained two years. In 1674 the King appointed him as his Mayordomo mayor, chief of his Household. He died in March, 1676 in the Royal Palace of Madrid. Marriage and children Francisco Fernández de la Cueva married in 1645 Juana Francisca de Díez de Aux Armendáriz and had only 1 daughter. This daughter, Ana de la Cueva y Díez de Aux Armendáriz (1647–1716), was married to her father's younger brother Melchor, thus making him 9th Duke of Alburquerque after Francisco's death. References https://web.archive.org/web/20120529004544/http://www.cabq.gov/museum/history/foundingabq.html "Fernández de la Cueva, Francisco," Enciclopedia de México, v. 5. Mexico City, 1988. García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984. Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, . 1619 births 1676 deaths People from Barcelona Counts of Ledesma Counts of Huelma 108 Fernández de la Cueva Grandees of Spain Marquesses of Cuellar Spanish colonial governors and administrators Spanish generals Viceroys of New Spain Viceroys of Sicily Military personnel of the Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)