He was fond of physical experiments and constructed various machines, especially tower-clocks, of which he made several for the convents of the Jesuits and Recollets of Guatemala and for the churches of Comayagua.

He wrote "Arte de Aritmetica práctica" (Guatemala, 1732); "Ortografía Latina y Castellana" (1733); and left in manuscript "Baratillo matemático, e Miscelánea de experimentos físicos, de máquinas," "Tratado de hacer y componer Relojes," "Arte de Perspectiva," "Arte para saber las Lunaciones y Eclipses, con solo el uso de Aritmética," "Almanaques para 85 años desde el de 1735, arreglados al Hemisferio de Guatemala," "Cronicón de Guatemala," and others, which are preserved in the archives of the cathedral.

PADILLA, Juan Jose, Central American scientist, born in Guatemala late in the 17th century ; died there about 1750. At an early age he was ordained priest and became canon of the cathedral of his native city, but, being inclined to mathematical pursuits, he gave all his spare time to that science and applied mechanics, in which he soon became proficient. He was fond of physical experiments and constructed various machines, especially tower-clocks, of which he made several for the convents of the Jesuits and Recollets of Guatemala and for the churches of Comayagua. He wrote "Arte de Aritmetica praictica" (Guatemala, 1732); " Ortografia Latina y Castellana" (1733) ; and left in manuscript "' Baratillo matematico, e Miscelanea de experimentos fisicos, de maquinas," " Tratado de hacer v componer Relojes," "Arte de Perspectiva," " Arte pare saber las Lunaciones y Eclipses, con solo el uso de Aritmetica," "Almanaques para 85 anos desde el de 1735, arreglados al Hemisferio de Guatemala," "CronicSn de Guatemala," and others, which are preserved in the archives of the cathedral.