Gaspar de Portolá
Gaspar de Portolá i Rovira (1716–1786) was a soldier and administrator in New Spain and became the founder and first governor of Alta California, as commander of the Spanish colonizing expedition on land and sea that established San Diego and Monterey. Portolá also led the first land expedition from San Diego to San Francisco. He named many geographic features on the way, many of which are still in use.
Early life
Portolá was born on January 1, 1716 in Os de Balaguer, in Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal. He was commissioned ensign in 1734, and lieutenant in 1743.
Governor of (Baja) California
By 1767, Jesuit missionaries on the Baja California Peninsula started establishing missions there. Later, rumors circulated that the Jesuits had amassed a fortune and were becoming very powerful. As part of the nearly global suppression of the Jesuits, King Carlos III ordered the Jesuits expelled and deported to the Papal States on the Italian peninsula. Following the command of the king, the Viceroy of New Spain ordered the arrest and deportation of all Jesuits in missions. Portolá was charged with the expulsion of the Jesuits. The missions were turned over to the Franciscans, and later to the Dominicans.
