Jos Basco y Vargas

José Basco y Pérez de Vargas, 1st Count of the Conquest of Batanes Islands (1731–1805), was a Spanish naval officer who served as the 53rd governor of the Spanish Philippines from 1778 to 1787. During his tenure, he implemented economic reforms aimed at promoting Philippine agricultural exports and established the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País, which revitalized the tobacco industry. Basco also sought to reduce the colony's dependence on Mexican and Chinese trade by incentivizing the production of cotton, spices, sugarcane, and mining. He tolerated foreign retailers, particularly English and North Americans, to facilitate trade.

Basco led efforts to subjugate the Ivatan natives of Batanes, which met resistance from leaders like Aman Dangat, who was eventually killed. In 1782, he sent an expedition to formalize Spanish control over the Ivatans, leading to the declaration of Joseph Huelva y Melgarjo as the first governor of Batanes in 1783. The province was named Provincia de la Concepcion, and Basco was granted the title "Conde de la Conquista de Batanes." The capital town was also named after him.

By royal decree on January 21, 1789, King Carlos III awarded Basco the title of Count of Conquest of the Batanes Islands for his services. He was replaced as governor-general by Pedro de Sarrio on November 22, 1787.