José María Morel
José María Morel was a Spanish merchant, who attended as a cabildante of Buenos Aires on May 22, 1810. He was the founder of the Morel family in the Río de la Plata, among whose distinguished members was the painter Carlos Morel.Biography
He was born in Ferrol, Galicia, Spain, and settled in Buenos Aires towards the end of 1780. He attended the School of the Consulate, a prestigious educational establishment of the city.
He was one of the main merchants during the colonial and post colonial period of Buenos Aires. In 1810 he was invited to take part in the Open Cabildo, supporting the continuity of Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, in charge of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
José María Morel y Pérez was married twice, first with Ana Joaquina Dupuy, and second with Juliana Miró, both ladies belonging to distinguished patrician families of Buenos Aires.
