Bartolomé Ferrelo
Encyclopedia
Bartolomé Ferrelo, also known as Bartolomé Ferrer, born 1499 in Bilbao
Spain, died 1550 in Mexico
.
He was the pilot for Juan Rodrigo Cabrillo
, the Portuguese captain who was sent by the viceroy of Mexico, with two ships in 1542 to explore what is now Northern California
. Cabrillo's expedition was the first exploration of the West Coast
.
The expedition started on June 27, 1542 from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, and sailed along the coast up to Punta del Ano Nuevo, 37° 10' north of Monterey
. The vessels were tossed about, and often separated from each other by the bad weather. Cabrillo died on January 3, 1543, on the Island of San Bernardo
, near the channel of Santa Barbara
; but Ferrelo, who succeeded him in command, continued his discoveries northward up to lat. 43°, where he saw the coast of Cape Blanco, later called Cape Orford
by George Vancouver
.
Excessive cold, want of provisions, sickness, and the unsoundness of his vessel, forced him to return without reaching the parallel mentioned in his instructions. At 41° 30' he perceived a point of land to which, in honor of the viceroy, he gave the name of Cape Mendocino
. From this point he sailed back to La Navidad, situated at 19° 45', where they arrived April 14, 1543, and established the fact that the coast was one continuous line between these two points.
In this voyage the Spaniards often saw the natives of the country, who were almost naked, painted their faces, lived by fishing, and inhabited large houses. John William Last finds a full account of the expedition in the History of the Indias. Humboldt
, in his work on Mexico, corrects several erroneous statements of the Dutch historian, which were drawn from the works of old Spanish writers, basing his corrections on certain documents that he had occasion to examine in Mexico.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
Spain, died 1550 in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
He was the pilot for Juan Rodrigo Cabrillo
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America on behalf of Spain. Cabrillo was the first European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California in the United States...
, the Portuguese captain who was sent by the viceroy of Mexico, with two ships in 1542 to explore what is now Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. Cabrillo's expedition was the first exploration of the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
The expedition started on June 27, 1542 from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, and sailed along the coast up to Punta del Ano Nuevo, 37° 10' north of Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. The vessels were tossed about, and often separated from each other by the bad weather. Cabrillo died on January 3, 1543, on the Island of San Bernardo
San Bernardo
San Bernardo may refer to:In Mexico:*San Bernardo, Baja California Sur*San Bernardo, Chihuahua*San Bernardo, Coahuila*San Bernardo, Durango*San Bernardo, Guanajuato *San Bernardo, Hidalgo *San Bernardo Tlamimilolpan, Mexico State...
, near the channel of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
; but Ferrelo, who succeeded him in command, continued his discoveries northward up to lat. 43°, where he saw the coast of Cape Blanco, later called Cape Orford
Port Orford, Oregon
Port Orford is a city in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It is on the southern Oregon Coast, at the northern end of what coastal Oregonians call the Banana Belt, because the weather from Port Orford south is noticeably warmer than the weather north of nearby Cape Blanco...
by George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
.
Excessive cold, want of provisions, sickness, and the unsoundness of his vessel, forced him to return without reaching the parallel mentioned in his instructions. At 41° 30' he perceived a point of land to which, in honor of the viceroy, he gave the name of Cape Mendocino
Cape Mendocino
Cape Mendocino located on the Lost Coast entirely within Humboldt County, California, USA, is the westernmost point on the coast of California. It has been a landmark since the 16th century when the Manila Galleons would reach the coast here following the prevailing westerlies all the way across...
. From this point he sailed back to La Navidad, situated at 19° 45', where they arrived April 14, 1543, and established the fact that the coast was one continuous line between these two points.
In this voyage the Spaniards often saw the natives of the country, who were almost naked, painted their faces, lived by fishing, and inhabited large houses. John William Last finds a full account of the expedition in the History of the Indias. Humboldt
Wilhelm von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Karl Ferdinand Freiherr von Humboldt was a German philosopher, government functionary, diplomat, and founder of Humboldt Universität. He is especially remembered as a linguist who made important contributions to the philosophy of language and to the theory and practice...
, in his work on Mexico, corrects several erroneous statements of the Dutch historian, which were drawn from the works of old Spanish writers, basing his corrections on certain documents that he had occasion to examine in Mexico.