Luis Antonio Argüello

Luis Antonio Argüello
Governor of Alta California
In office 1822–1825
Preceded by	Pablo Vicente de Solá
Succeeded by	José María de Echeandía
Personal details
Born	June 21, 1784(1784-06-21) San Francisco, California
Died	March 27, 1830(1830-03-27) (aged 45) San Francisco, California
Spouse(s)	María Angela Berreyesa, Maria Soledad Ortega
Profession	Explorer, politician, soldier
Religion	Catholic

Luis Antonio Argüello (Spanish pronunciation: [luˈis anˈtonjo arˈɣweʎo]) (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.^[1] 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.

Biography

Grave of Luís Antonio Argüello at Mission Dolores Cemetery San Francisco

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.^[2]

Argüello and his second wife Maria Soledad Ortega owned the 142 square kilometres (35,000 acres) 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.

Legacy

In World War II, the United States liberty ship edit] References

1. ^ "Governors of California". San Diego Historical Society. http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/data/governors2.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-29. 
2. ^ Argüello, Luis Antonio; Vivian C. Fisher; Arthur Quinn (1992). The Diary of Captain Luis Antonio Argüello 1821: The Last Spanish Expedition in California. Berkeley: : The Friends of Bancroft Library, University of California. OCLC 26943462. 

• Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1963.

External links

• Luis Antonio Argüello at Find a Grave
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Luis Antonio Argüello

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

Persondata
Name	Arguello, Luis Antonio
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 21, 1784
Place of birth	San Francisco, California
Date of death	March 27, 1830
Place of death	San Francisco, California