José de Züñiga
Encyclopedia
José de Zúñiga was a soldier and early California
and Arizona
settler.
Zúñiga was born 1755 in Cuautitlán
, near Mexico City
, to Spanish
parents.
He enlisted on October 18, 1772 as an officer trainee in the frontier army.
He initially served on the Texas
frontier.
In 1780 he was promoted to lieutenant while stationed at the Presidio of San Carlos de Cerro Gordo, in the remote Big Bend Country.
In 1781 Lt. Zúñiga led his troops to Mission San Gabriel.
He became Commandant
of the Presidio of San Diego
on
September 8, 1781 and served in that post 12 years, until October 19, 1793.
While there, he had cordial relations with his men, the Indians, his superiors, and missionaries.
In 1782 Zúñiga laid a road from San Diego Bay
to the presidio.
That same year he also built the Presidio chapel.
He was its carpenter, mason, and painter for the chapel.
He also ordered a statue of the Immaculate Conception (which is now at Mission San Luis Rey).
In a letter to his mother in Mexico City, he proudly described the chapel and sent money to purchase "carmine, vermillion and other painting materials", garden and flower seeds, and to send any Dramas she can spare to read.
In 1784, Zúñiga became a member of the third order of Franciscans.
Zúñiga had a reputation for honesty. He also served as quartermaster/paymaster and his books were always in order. He found a deficit in the books for $7000. The previous quartermaster/paymaster, Rafael Pedro y Gil, was arrested and sent to San Blas, Nayarit
.
On May 19, 1792 Zúñiga was promoted to captain and assigned to the Presidio of Tucson
, but had to wait until 1793 until his successor for San Diego arrives.
After detached duty in Monterey
, Züñiga arrived in Tucson in 1794.
Zúñiga blazed a trail between Tucson and the Zuni pueblos in 1795, but
Apache
hostilities prevented that route from becoming well-traveled.
During 1804–1806 Zúñiga was the commander at Tucson. He later served at Arizpe, and retired as lieutenant colonel and Adjutant Inspector of Presidios.
Züñiga had at least two sons. His son Ignacio was born in 1796 in Tucson.
He had a previous son born 1783 as the result of an affair with Teresa Morillo, wife of an enlisted man, Manuel Nieto.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
settler.
Zúñiga was born 1755 in Cuautitlán
Cuautitlán Izcalli
Cuautitlán Izcalli is a city and municipality in Mexico State, Mexico. The name comes from Náhuatl and means 'your house between the trees.' -City and municipal seat:...
, near Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, to Spanish
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...
parents.
He enlisted on October 18, 1772 as an officer trainee in the frontier army.
He initially served on the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
frontier.
In 1780 he was promoted to lieutenant while stationed at the Presidio of San Carlos de Cerro Gordo, in the remote Big Bend Country.
In 1781 Lt. Zúñiga led his troops to Mission San Gabriel.
He became 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...
on
September 8, 1781 and served in that post 12 years, until October 19, 1793.
While there, he had cordial relations with his men, the Indians, his superiors, and missionaries.
In 1782 Zúñiga laid a road from 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...
to the presidio.
That same year he also built the Presidio chapel.
He was its carpenter, mason, and painter for the chapel.
He also ordered a statue of the Immaculate Conception (which is now at Mission San Luis Rey).
In a letter to his mother in Mexico City, he proudly described the chapel and sent money to purchase "carmine, vermillion and other painting materials", garden and flower seeds, and to send any Dramas she can spare to read.
In 1784, Zúñiga became a member of the third order of Franciscans.
Zúñiga had a reputation for honesty. He also served as quartermaster/paymaster and his books were always in order. He found a deficit in the books for $7000. The previous quartermaster/paymaster, Rafael Pedro y Gil, was arrested and sent to San Blas, Nayarit
San Blas, Nayarit
San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit.-City:San Blas is a port and a popular tourist destination, located about 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, and 40 miles west of the state capital Tepic. The town has a population of...
.
On May 19, 1792 Zúñiga was promoted to captain and assigned to the Presidio of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, but had to wait until 1793 until his successor for San Diego arrives.
After detached duty in 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...
, Züñiga arrived in Tucson in 1794.
Zúñiga blazed a trail between Tucson and the Zuni pueblos in 1795, but
Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
hostilities prevented that route from becoming well-traveled.
During 1804–1806 Zúñiga was the commander at Tucson. He later served at Arizpe, and retired as lieutenant colonel and Adjutant Inspector of Presidios.
Züñiga had at least two sons. His son Ignacio was born in 1796 in Tucson.
He had a previous son born 1783 as the result of an affair with Teresa Morillo, wife of an enlisted man, Manuel Nieto.
See also
- Bancroft, Hubert Howe, The History of California (1884) Vol I. 1542-1800, pp. 451–452, 645-656
- "Don Joseph de Zuniga Second Commandant of the San Diego Presidio" (Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation)