his parents were miguel augustín mariño de los reyes and maría josefa soler y currea. he was a great-great-grandson of jerónimo mariño de lobeira y sotomayor, spanish explorer, settler, captain of the king and high justice in santa rosa de viterbo, who arrived in america from pontevedra between 1639 and 1641. his half-brother ignacio mariño y torres, dominican priest, colonel of liberty army and magister misioniss and his cousin santiago mariño carige fitzgerald, general in chief of east army and president of republic of venezuela. remarkably, his ancestors were: ambassadors, priests, ship owners, troubadours, businessmen, explorers, colonizers and rulers.