José Francisco Ortega
Encyclopedia
José Francisco Ortega was soldier and early settler of California
.
, Guanajuanto, Mexico
, where he worked as a warehouse clerk. In 1755, he enlisted and served at the Presidio at Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto. In 1759 Ortega married María Antonia Victoria Carrillo, who was born 1741. They eventually had ten children. Some time after being made a sergeant, Ortega left the army to mine in Baja California
, and became alcalde (mayor) of the mining camps placed on the peninsula. Later he rejoined the army.
's 2nd land expedition to Alta California
in 1769. He was the chief scout on this expedition, which discovered San Francisco Bay
, and was probably the first to see it.
In 1773 Ortega became Lieutenant and Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego
, a post he held until 1781. Previously he was Acting Commandant from July 1771 in the absence of Pedro Fages
. As Commandante he went with Fray Lausen and twelve soldiers to explore the site which became Mission San Juan Capistrano
. Ortega was a favorite of the missionaries, including Junípero Serra
. In the spring of 1782, Ortega was on the expedition that founded Mission San Buenaventura
and the Presidio of Santa Barbara
. Ortega became the first Commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara that year, and remained until 1784. During 1787–1791 he was Commandant of the Presidio of Monterey,and in 1792 the Commandant of the Presidio in Loreto.
. He built his ranch here, but didn't enjoy it long. In 1798 Ortega fell off a horse and died at age 65 in the Indian village of Casil at Refugio Beach. He was buried at Mission Santa Barbara on February 3, 1798.
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...
.
Early life
Ortega was born in 1734 at ZelayaCelaya
Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a...
, Guanajuanto, 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 worked as a warehouse clerk. In 1755, he enlisted and served at the Presidio at Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto. In 1759 Ortega married María Antonia Victoria Carrillo, who was born 1741. They eventually had ten children. Some time after being made a sergeant, Ortega left the army to mine in Baja California
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
, and became alcalde (mayor) of the mining camps placed on the peninsula. Later he rejoined the army.
Alta California
Sergeant Ortega was on Gaspar de PortolàGaspar de Portolà
Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira was a soldier, governor of Baja and Alta California , explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey. He was born in Os de Balaguer, province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal...
's 2nd land expedition to Alta California
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,...
in 1769. He was the chief scout on this expedition, which discovered San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
, and was probably the first to see it.
In 1773 Ortega became Lieutenant and Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
, a post he held until 1781. Previously he was Acting Commandant from July 1771 in the absence of Pedro Fages
Pedro Fages
Pere Fages Beleta , nicknamed L'Ós , was a soldier, explorer, and the second Spanish military Governor of Las Californias Province of New Spain from 1770 to 1774, and the Governor of Las Californias from 1782 to 1791.-Life:...
. As Commandante he went with Fray Lausen and twelve soldiers to explore the site which became Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano was a Spanish mission in Southern California, located in present-day San Juan Capistrano. It was founded on All Saints Day November 1, 1776, by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order...
. Ortega was a favorite of the missionaries, including Junípero Serra
Junípero Serra
Blessed Junípero Serra, O.F.M., , known as Fra Juníper Serra in Catalan, his mother tongue was a Majorcan Franciscan friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California of the Las Californias Province in New Spain—present day California, United States. Fr...
. In the spring of 1782, Ortega was on the expedition that founded Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 in Las Californias, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain. Named for a Franciscan theologian, Saint Bonaventure, it was the last of the missions founded by Father Serra...
and the Presidio of Santa Barbara
Presidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
. Ortega became the first Commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara that year, and remained until 1784. During 1787–1791 he was Commandant of the Presidio of Monterey,and in 1792 the Commandant of the Presidio in Loreto.
Retirement
In 1795 he retired as brevet captain with 40 years of service. Ortega was given a Spanish "land concession" in 1794, which he named Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio (Rancho Refugio) near Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. He built his ranch here, but didn't enjoy it long. In 1798 Ortega fell off a horse and died at age 65 in the Indian village of Casil at Refugio Beach. He was buried at Mission Santa Barbara on February 3, 1798.