Luis Ignatius Peñalver y Cárdenas

Luis Ignatius Peñalver y Cárdenas (3 April 1749 – 17 July 1810) was a Cuban Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of New Orleans, and as Archbishop of Guatemala.

Biography He was born in Havana, the son of a wealthy and noble family. After studying belles-lettres and philosophy in St. Ignatius College, Havana, he followed there the courses of the University of St. Jerome and in 1771 obtained the degree of Doctor of Theology. His bishop entrusted to him several missions of an administrative nature, and in 1773 appointed him provisor and vicar-general.

When Pope Pius VI, at the request of Charles IV of Spain, created Louisiana and the Floridas a diocese, distinct from the diocese of Santiago de Cuba, Luis Penalver was made its first bishop. He made his entrance into New Orleans on 17 July 1795, took formal possession of his see, and in the following December published an "Instrucción para el govierno de los párrocos de la diócesis de la Luisiana". He soon began the visitation of his diocese, which then extended over the country known later as the Louisiana Purchase Territory. He died in Havana, aged 61.