 He was named Commander-General of the Canary Islands in 1791, and assumed this position on 31 January 1791; his predecessor in the position had been the Marquis of Branciforte.During the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797), Gutiérrez was suffering from an attack of asthma, but he managed to defeat British forces under Horatio Nelson.Gutiérrez allowed the British to leave with their arms and war honors.