Lucas Fernando de Palacio y Valenzuela (1758-1761) claimed 36 years of loyal service in the Spanish army. He had distinguished himself in Gibraltar, Navarre, Ceuta, Oran, and Italy. Palacio was the only governor to marry during his term; but if his wedding was a time for celebration in the spring of 1761, his sudden death later in that year was a sad event for the Florida populace and his young Creole bride, Josepha Escobedo y Angulo. [Note: The young widow was terribly distraught; her letters requesting aid and succor from the king were pathetic.] (Tepaske GSF)