Luis Antonio Argüello
Encyclopedia
Luis Antonio Argüello (June 21, 1784– March 27, 1830) was the first native governor of Alta California
from 1822 to 1825, during the period California was under Mexican
rule, twelfth overall. He was the only governor to serve under the Mexican empire
, and the first native Californian to hold that office. He also served as acting governor under the provisional government which preceding the Mexican Republic.
Argüello was born in San Francisco, to José Darío Argüello
and Maria Ygnacia Moraga, members one of the most distinguished and influential families in early California history. His father served twice as governor of California.
In August, 1806, Argüello succeeded his father as Commandant of California with the rank of lieutenant
. In 1821, he launched an exploration of Northern California to investigate the rumors of "Foreigners" setting up a base. This expedition has come to be popularly known as The Last Spanish Expedition in California.
Argüello and his second wife Maria Soledad Ortega
owned the 142 square kilometres (35,088.9 acre) Rancho de las Pulgas
situated in what is now San Mateo
, Belmont
, San Carlos
, Redwood City
, Atherton
& Menlo Park
. Though Luis never actually lived there, his widow and children settled there after his death in 1830.
He published his diary The Diary of Captain Arguello: The Last Spanish Expedition in California, October 17 - November 17, 1821.
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,...
from 1822 to 1825, during the period California was under Mexican
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...
rule, twelfth overall. He was the only governor to serve under the Mexican empire
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
, and the first native Californian to hold that office. He also served as acting governor under the provisional government which preceding the Mexican Republic.
Biography
José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello was a Spanish soldier and California pioneer, and twice governor of California.-Biography:José Darío Argüello was born in Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain ....
and Maria Ygnacia Moraga, members one of the most distinguished and influential families in early California history. His father served twice as governor of California.
In August, 1806, Argüello succeeded his father as Commandant of California with the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. In 1821, he launched an exploration of Northern California to investigate the rumors of "Foreigners" setting up a base. This expedition has come to be popularly known as The Last Spanish Expedition in California.
Argüello and his second wife Maria Soledad Ortega
Maria Soledad Ortega de Argüello
Maria Soledad Ortega de Argüello was the heir to Rancho de las Pulgas. The Rancho was granted, re-granted twice, and finally patented by the United States Supreme Court. The land she inherited would eventually become 5 cities on the San Francisco Peninsula...
owned the 142 square kilometres (35,088.9 acre) Rancho de las Pulgas
Rancho de las Pulgas
Rancho de las Pulgas was a 1795 Spanish land grant in present day San Mateo County, California to José Darío Argüello. The name means "Ranch of the Fleas". The grant was bounded by San Mateo Creek on the north and San Francisquito Creek on the south, and extended about one league from San...
situated in what is now San Mateo
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
, Belmont
Belmont, California
Belmont is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. It is in the San Francisco Bay Area, located half-way down the San Francisco Peninsula between San Mateo and San Carlos. It was originally part of the Rancho de las Pulgas, for which one of its main roads, the Alameda de las Pulgas,...
, San Carlos
San Carlos, California
San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. It is an affluent small residential suburb located between Belmont to the north and Redwood City to the south. San Carlos' ZIP code is 94070, and it is within...
, Redwood City
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
, Atherton
Atherton, California
Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,914 at the 2010 census. In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed Atherton's zip code of 94027 at #2 on its annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, with a median home price of $4,010,200...
& Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. Though Luis never actually lived there, his widow and children settled there after his death in 1830.
He published his diary The Diary of Captain Arguello: The Last Spanish Expedition in California, October 17 - November 17, 1821.