José Antonio Aguirre (industrialist)
Encyclopedia
José Antonio Aguirre was a merchant and rancher in Alta California
, most prominently in what would become San Diego, California
.
Aguirre was born in San Sebastián
, Spain
, but left for North America at the age of 15, and became a citizen of Mexico
and the United States
as national powers rose and fell on the continent. He married Francisca Estudillo, eldest daughter of José Antonio Estudillo
, a prominent landowner. Aguirre received half of the Rancho El Tejon
Mexican land grant in 1843. Some years after Francisca died during what would have been the birth of their first child, Aguirre married Francisca's sister, María del Rosario Estudillo. María del Rosario Estudillo was the grantee of Rancho San Jacinto Sobrante
.
In 1850, Aguirre joined William Heath Davis
and Aguirre's brother-in-law Miguel Pedrorena
(who was married to another Estudillo sister, Antonia) in an attempt to start a new town near San Diego, but closer to the San Diego Bay
. In 1853, José Antonio Aguirre bought Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero
from the estate of Miguel Pedrorena.
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
, most prominently in what would become San Diego, California
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...
.
Aguirre was born in San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but left for North America at the age of 15, and became a citizen of 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as national powers rose and fell on the continent. He married Francisca Estudillo, eldest daughter of José Antonio Estudillo
José Antonio Estudillo
José Antonio Estudillo was a Californio and an early settler of San Diego, California when California was part of New Spain.-Life:...
, a prominent landowner. Aguirre received half of the Rancho El Tejon
Rancho El Tejon
Rancho El Tejon was a Mexican land grant in the Tehachapi Mountains, in present day Kern County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Antonio Aguirre and Ygnacio del Valle...
Mexican land grant in 1843. Some years after Francisca died during what would have been the birth of their first child, Aguirre married Francisca's sister, María del Rosario Estudillo. María del Rosario Estudillo was the grantee of Rancho San Jacinto Sobrante
Rancho San Jacinto Sobrante
Rancho San Jacinto Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day Riverside County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to María del Rosario Estudillo de Aguirre. The Rancho San Jacinto Sobrante grant was of the surplus or "sobrante" of Jose Antonio Estudillo's Rancho San Jacinto...
.
In 1850, Aguirre joined William Heath Davis
William Heath Davis
William Heath "Kanaka" Davis, Jr. was an early settler of San Diego, California.-Life:Davis was born in 1822, in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands to William Heath Davis, Sr. and Hannah Holmes Davis, a daughter of Oliver Holmes, royal governor of Oahu, and relative of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.. Both...
and Aguirre's brother-in-law Miguel Pedrorena
Miguel Pedrorena
Miguel Telesford Pedrorena or Miguel de Pedrorena was an early settler of San Diego, California-Life:Miguel Pedroena moved to San Diego in 1845. He married María Antonia Estudillo, daughter of José Antonio Estudillo and María Victoria...
(who was married to another Estudillo sister, Antonia) in an attempt to start a new town near San Diego, but closer to the San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
. In 1853, José Antonio Aguirre bought Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero
Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero
Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero was a Mexican land grant in present day Riverside County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to Miguel Pedrorena. At the time of the US Patent, Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero was a part of San Diego County...
from the estate of Miguel Pedrorena.