Antonio de Ulloa ( 12 January 1716 â `` 3 July 1795 ) was a Spanish general , explorer , author , astronomer , colonial administrator and the first Spanish governor of Louisiana . Antonio de Ulloa y de la Torre-Giralt ( 12 January 1716 -- 3 July 1795 ) was a Spanish general , explorer , author , astronomer , colonial administrator and the first Spanish governor of Louisiana .