From 1718 till 1743 he held the office of cosmographer, publishing the "Conocimientos de los Tiempos," which had been begun in 1680 by his predecessor, Juan Ramon Koenig (q. v.). He was also chief engineer of Peru, and comptroller of the audiencia of Lima and other tribunals.

When the ancient wall of Callao was destroyed by the earthquake of 20 October, 1687, Peralta furnished the plans on which it was rebuilt. He spoke six languages fluently, and was even able to write poetry in them.

Among his works are "Defensa política y militar de Lima" (Lima, 1708); "Geometria especulativa y aritmetica" (1714); "Nuevo sistema astrológico demostrativo" (1717); "Tratado fisico-medico-teológico" (1718); "Tratado fisico-matematico"(1719); "Lima triunfante" (1720); "Templo de la Fama" (1721); "Júbilos de Lima" (1723); "La Gloria de Luis el Grande" (1725); "Historia de España vindicada" (1730); "Lima fundada o Conquista del Perú" (1732); and "Obras políticas, liricas y cómicas" (2 vols., 1736).

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 StanKlos.com^TM

PERALTA-BARNUEVO, Pedro (pay-ral-tah), Peruvian author, born in Lima in 1663; died there in 1743. He studied in the University of San Marcos, where he was graduated as doctor of laws, became professor of mathematics, and in 1715-'17 was rector of that Institution. From 1718 till 1743 he held the office of cosmographer, publishing the " Conocimientos de los Tiempos," which had been begun in 1680 by his predecessor, Juan Ramon Koenig (q. v.). He was also chief engineer of Peru, and comptroller of the audiencia of Lima and other tribunals. When the ancient wall of Callao was destroyed by the earthquake of 20 October, 1687, Peralta furnished the plans on which it was rebuilt. He spoke six languages fluently, and was even able to write poetry in them. Among his works are "Defensa politica y militar de Lima" (Lima, 1708)" "Geometria especulativa v aritmetica" (1714); '" Nuevo sistema astFoldgico demostrativo" (1717) ; "Tratado fisico-medico-teoldgico" (1718) ; "Tratado fisico-matematico "(1719) ; "Lima triunfante" (1720) ; "Templo de la Fama" (1721) ; "Jebilos de Lima" (1723) ; " La Gloria de Luis el Grande" (1725) ; " Historia de Espana vindicada" (1730) ; "Lima fundada 6 Conquista del Perd " (1732) : and "Obras podticas, liricas y cdmicas" (2 vols., 1736).