Pedro Porter Casanate
Encyclopedia
Admiral Pedro Porter y Casanate (April 30, 1611 – February 27, 1662) was a Spanish sailor, soldier, explorer of California
and Royal Governor of Chile
from 1656 to 1662.
, the second son of Juan Porter and Esperanza Casanate. In 1627, he joined the Spanish Navy
, and under Admiral
Fadrique de Toledo
participated in the expedition against La Rochelle
. The year after, he joined the fleet of Admiral Francisco de Vallecilla, charged with protecting the silver galleons from pirate attacks. In 1629, he travelled to the new world for the first time, to fight against the British that had occupied the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis
, taking part in several conflicts in his time and in numerous naval expeditions in the Indies, as a consequence of which he was promoted to alférez in 1631, and sea captain
in 1634. The same year, he published his first book on naval themes, the Correction to mistakes of the Spanish navigation .
Later he would become an admiral of the South Seas fleet. He was knight of the Order of Santiago
.
a license to explore California
, a territory that although located within the borders of the Spanish Empire
was unknown whether it was an island
or peninsula
. Nonetheless, problems and suspicions about his intentions led to the confiscation of his ships. In 1636, he tried again, this time with the license and economic sponsorship of Viceroy marquis de Cadereyta
In 1643 king Philip IV
relieved him from his position in the Navy, ordering him to explore California. That same year he left from Cadiz
for Cartagena de Indias, from where he left for Veracruz
, and crossing the continent he arrived on the west coast of Mexico
; where he would remain until 1649, exploring and colonizing the area of the Gulf of California
.
Considered as an expert in naval matters, his treatises were appreciated at the time. Among them were: : Diccionario náutico, Hidrografía general, Arte de navegar.
, in whose functions he took part in the Arauco War
against the Mapuche
. During his government he founded the fortress of San Miguel Arcángel de Colcura, built southeast of the modern city of Lota on the site of the old Fort Colcura
in the valley of Colcura. He would remain in this position until his death in 1662 in Concepción
.
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 Royal Governor of Chile
Royal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
from 1656 to 1662.
Early life
Porter was born in ZaragozaZaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, the second son of Juan Porter and Esperanza Casanate. In 1627, he joined the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
, and under Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Fadrique de Toledo
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Mendoza
′Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Mendoza , was a Spanish noble and admiral.He was a Knight of the Order of Santiago, a Spanish Admiral, and Captain General of the Spanish Navy at the age of 37....
participated in the expedition against La Rochelle
Siege of La Rochelle
The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628...
. The year after, he joined the fleet of Admiral Francisco de Vallecilla, charged with protecting the silver galleons from pirate attacks. In 1629, he travelled to the new world for the first time, to fight against the British that had occupied the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
, taking part in several conflicts in his time and in numerous naval expeditions in the Indies, as a consequence of which he was promoted to alférez in 1631, and sea captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1634. The same year, he published his first book on naval themes, the Correction to mistakes of the Spanish navigation .
Later he would become an admiral of the South Seas fleet. He was knight of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
.
Explorations
In 1635, he applied for and got from the Viceroy of New Spain marquis de CerralvoRodrigo Pacheco y Osorio, marqués de Cerralvo
Don Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio de Toledo, 3rd Marquis of Cerralvo was a Spanish nobleman, inquisitor of Valladolid, and viceroy of New Spain. He held the latter position from November 3, 1624 to September 16, 1635.-Early career and appointment as viceroy of New Spain:Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio was...
a license to explore California
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...
, a territory that although located within the borders of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
was unknown whether it was an island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
or peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
. Nonetheless, problems and suspicions about his intentions led to the confiscation of his ships. In 1636, he tried again, this time with the license and economic sponsorship of Viceroy marquis de Cadereyta
Lope Díez de Armendáriz, marqués de Cadereyta
Don Lope Díez de Aux de Armendáriz, Marquis of Cadereyta was a Spanish nobleman and the first Criollo to be viceroy of New Spain...
In 1643 king Philip IV
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
relieved him from his position in the Navy, ordering him to explore California. That same year he left from Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
for Cartagena de Indias, from where he left for Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, and crossing the continent he arrived on the west coast 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...
; where he would remain until 1649, exploring and colonizing the area of the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
.
Considered as an expert in naval matters, his treatises were appreciated at the time. Among them were: : Diccionario náutico, Hidrografía general, Arte de navegar.
Governor of Chile
In 1656 he was designated as governor of the Kingdom of ChileKingdom of Chile
The General Captaincy of Chile or Gobernacion de Chile, was an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile...
, in whose functions he took part in the Arauco War
Arauco War
The Arauco War was a conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people in what is now the Araucanía and Biobío regions of modern Chile...
against the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
. During his government he founded the fortress of San Miguel Arcángel de Colcura, built southeast of the modern city of Lota on the site of the old Fort Colcura
Fort Colcura
Fort Colcura was a small fort that was the first Spanish settlement that existed in the commune of Lota, Chile. It was on a small height on the edge of the Bay of Arauco, a little more than two kilometers to the southeast of the modern city of Lota...
in the valley of Colcura. He would remain in this position until his death in 1662 in Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
.