Francisco María Ruiz
Encyclopedia
Francisco María Ruiz was an early settler of San Diego, California
Ruiz was born 1754 in Loreto, Baja California
. He enlisted in the army when he was 26 and sent to Upper California. He was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 1805 in Santa Barbara
and transferred to San Diego.
Lieutenant Ruiz was Acting Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego
during 1809–1820 then Captain and Commandant during September 1821–1827. During this time, the Presidio was relinquished by the Spanish on April 20, 1822. Captain Ruiz retired in 1827 at the age of 73.
In 1823 Captain Ruiz received the first private land grant in present San Diego County, the 8486 acres (34.3 km²) Rancho Los Peñasquitos
(Little Cliffs Ranch). This area is still known as Rancho Peñasquitos
. Ruiz built an adobe home in the western part of the Ranch, at the eastern end of Sorrento Valley
. Some walls of the adobe still stand, and are protected with a shed roof. He kept his home in San Diego and only occasionally visited his ranch. In 1837 Ruiz sold his ranch to his great nephew Francisco María Alvarado
who cared for him in his old age.
Ruiz never married, and died in 1839.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
Loreto, Baja California Sur
Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula. It served as the capital of Las Californias from 1697 to 1777, and is the current seat of the municipality of Loreto in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur...
. He enlisted in the army when he was 26 and sent to Upper California. He was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 1805 in 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...
and transferred to San Diego.
Lieutenant Ruiz was Acting Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
during 1809–1820 then Captain and Commandant during September 1821–1827. During this time, the Presidio was relinquished by the Spanish on April 20, 1822. Captain Ruiz retired in 1827 at the age of 73.
In 1823 Captain Ruiz received the first private land grant in present San Diego County, the 8486 acres (34.3 km²) Rancho Los Peñasquitos
Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos
Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos was a Mexican land grant in present day southwestern San Diego County, California given in 1823 to Francisco María Ruiz. The name means "Saint Mary of the Little Cliffs"...
(Little Cliffs Ranch). This area is still known as Rancho Peñasquitos
Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, California
Rancho Peñasquitos is a community in the northeastern part of the city of San Diego, California. It is named after the first Spanish Land Grant in the County - Rancho de Los Penasquitos. Peñasquitos means little cliffs in Spanish. It abuts Los Penasquitos canyon preserve - an open space...
. Ruiz built an adobe home in the western part of the Ranch, at the eastern end of Sorrento Valley
Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California
Sorrento Valley is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located about 15 mi north of Downtown San Diego and its main airport, Lindbergh Field...
. Some walls of the adobe still stand, and are protected with a shed roof. He kept his home in San Diego and only occasionally visited his ranch. In 1837 Ruiz sold his ranch to his great nephew Francisco María Alvarado
Francisco María Alvarado
Francisco María Alvarado was an early settler of San Diego, California.Alvarado was born around 1793 to a Spanish soldier. He married Tomasa Pico, the sister of Pío Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California....
who cared for him in his old age.
Ruiz never married, and died in 1839.
See also
- "Los Peñasquitos Rancho", Historic Ranchos of San Diego by Cecil C. Moyer, Richard F. Pourade, ed. (1960)