Tejano History
Pichardo, Jose Antonio
Tejanos |
PICHARDO, JOSÉ ANTONIO (1748–1812). José Antonio Pichardo, author of the monumental treatise On the Limits of Louisiana and Texas, was born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 1748. He attended the college of San Juan de Letrán, where he later held the chairs of Latin and philosophy. He took religious orders and joined the Oratory of San Felipe Neri in Mexico City, where he served as secretary for twenty-three years. He was chaplain of the Hospital for the Poor, father confessor of the Capuchin nuns, a popular sacred orator, and a scholar of distinction. Out of his meager savings he built a fine collection of 6,000 books and manuscripts. In addition to a thorough knowledge of Greek and Latin, he knew the principal European languages, as shown by the frequent references in his works to French, Italian, English, and Dutch authorities.
Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online