José de la Serna was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator born in 1770. He is best known for his role as the Viceroy of the {Viceroyalty of Peru} from 1816 to 1821 during a tumultuous period marked by the {South American wars of independence}. His leadership faced challenges from revolutionary movements seeking independence from Spanish rule. De la Serna's tenure was characterized by efforts to maintain Spanish authority in the region. Despite his attempts to quell uprisings, he ultimately struggled against the growing influence of independence leaders like {Simón Bolívar} and {José de San Martín}. He left office in 1821 as Peru moved closer to independence.