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The '''Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola''' was a [[Second Spanish period|Spanish]] settlement that was established in [[1756]] as the successor of the [[Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa]], which had been destroyed by a [[hurricane]] in [[1752]]. The name "San Miguel" referred to Saint Michael the Archangel, and "[[Panzacola]]" was an Indian word had been used to refer to the [[Pensacola Bay|bay]]. This presidio was the first colony in the area of modern-day [[downtown Pensacola]]; previous European settlements had been located near the [[Barrancas de Santo Tomé]] or on [[Punta de Sigüenza]].
The presidio was built around [[Fuerte San Miguel]], a small outpost built in the 1740s. When a hurricane hit the area on [[November 3]], [[1752]], the [[Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa]] was severely damaged. The Spanish forces on [[Santa Rosa Island]] began shifting their presence to the mainland, erecting new buildings around the San Miguel blockhouse, but official orders to move were not received until [[1756]]. Originally to be known as the '''Presidio San Miguel de las Amarillas]]]''', after the viceroy of New Spain, the [[Wikipedia:Agustín de Ahumada|Marqués de la Amarillas]], it was renamed San Miguel de Panzacola by order of the king in [[1757]].
A new commandant, Col. [[Miguel Román de Castilla y Lugo]], arrived early in 1757. Construction of a new stockade began on [[August 30]], built on the site of the old outpost. Progress was hurried along by reports that [[Talapoosa]] Indians were planning an attack. Before long the presidio contained solders' barracks and houses, a warehouse, church and hospital, and Pensacola's first brick building, the governor's house. A larger, double stockade fort called the [[Castillo de Santa Barbara]] was planned, but the location is unknown.
