Eugène Duflot de Mofras
Encyclopedia
Eugène Duflot de Mofras was a nineteenth-century French diplomat and explorer. In 1839 Duflot de Mofras was dispatched from his post in Mexico City
and spent the next four years exploring the western coast of North America
. He was to access the region for French business interests. His account, published as Travels on the Pacific Coast, recorded the commercial, political and military significance of the region. A great majority of the description is given to life surrounding the California missions, including the missions at Monterey and Santa Cruz
.
While stationed in San Francisco he traveled inland and visited General Sutter
and his outpost on the Sacramento River
– before the discovery of gold. His report was remarkably significant at the time, and remains one of the finest descriptions of the Pacific Coast
before the American era. He wrote in 1840 "...it is evident that California
will belong to whatever nation chooses to send there a man-of-war and two hundred men."
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...
and spent the next four years exploring the western coast of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. He was to access the region for French business interests. His account, published as Travels on the Pacific Coast, recorded the commercial, political and military significance of the region. A great majority of the description is given to life surrounding the California missions, including the missions at Monterey and Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
.
While stationed in San Francisco he traveled inland and visited General Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
and his outpost on the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
– before the discovery of gold. His report was remarkably significant at the time, and remains one of the finest descriptions of the Pacific Coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
before the American era. He wrote in 1840 "...it is evident that 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...
will belong to whatever nation chooses to send there a man-of-war and two hundred men."