he was born on lanzarote (canary islands). he settled in madrid, became editor of "el pensador", and by his campaign against the public performance of "autos sacramentales", secured their prohibition in 1765. in 1770 he was appointed director of the royal theatres, a post which he resigned in order to take up the editorship of the "mercurio histórico y político de madrid." at the time of his death in 1806 he was secretary to the cabinet of natural history.