Mariano Ignacio Montealegre and Balmaceda who arrived in Guatemala from Granada, Spain in 1775, accompanying his father (the same name) who held a senior position gubernatorial concerning the factory of Snuff. After his father died he went to San Jose, Costa Rica, where he married Miss Casimira Manuela Saenz Romero. This marriage then moved to Leon de Nicaragua where he established his permanent residence, due to the appointment which was subjected Don Mariano Ignacio for the Spanish Crown; at the highest governmental position of "Faithful Almacenes de León".
It is important to note that Don Mariano Ignacio Montealegre and Balmaceda before marriage with Romero and Sáenz Miss fathered two children, namely: 1) Mariano Montealegre founder of Montealegre de Costa Rica, who married Dona Jerónima Fernández Bustamante Chacon and both are parents, among others, the Costa Rican President José María Montealegre who married in first nuptials with Dona Ana Maria Mora Porras, sister also President of Costa Rica Juan Manuel Mora Porras; and in second nuptials with the English Sophie Matilda Joy. 2) Juan Montealegre Rueda, founder of Montealegre de Guatemala
