José María Chacón

Don José María Chacón (1 January 1749 – 1 January 1833) was the last Spanish Governor of Trinidad. He was responsible for signing the Cedula of Population in 1783 (which led to extensive French immigration to Trinidad), founded the city of San Fernando in 1784 and surrendered the island of Trinidad to a British fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1797. The King of Spain set up a "Council of War" to look into the surrender. By Royal Decree, Chacon and Rear Admiral Sebastián Ruiz de Apodaca (who had scuttled his small fleet) were banished for life from the "Royal Domain." Apodaca's case was reconsidered and he was reinstated in 1809, but Chacón died in exile.